It is Finished

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

IT IS FINISHED

John 19:28-30

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.   30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

NIV

Again we see Jesus being all knowing and thus quoting from one of the prophetic phrases in a psalm that spoke of being thirsty and being given this tart wine to drink. But the truth here for us today is in those other words Jesus spoke, “It is finished”. He had accomplished what he had set out to do. He had redeemed us, set us free from the law. Although many scholars or believers might say that it was not until he conquered death, rising from the dead, as well as his ascension into heaven that we were redeemed, set free and given eternal life. If that were the case, Jesus would not have been able to say it is finished and then gave up his spirit. It was this sacrifice which set us free. It was this sacrifice which frees us from the wrath of God against sin. It was this sacrifice which satisfied the justice of God. It was a sacrifice that only God himself could make in order to satisfy his need for justice. There is nothing else that needs to be done as it is finished. Granted, it would not be appropriate for our God to remain in a grave, he certainly could not be contained within an earthy grave, and thus he arose so that he could be our living God. But the truth is he finished all that was needed for our salvation on the cross. Jesus did not say, it is now getting started, he said it was finished. This was the end of what he needed to do. The rest is just about him being God, not being contained in a grave, not being contained in a body, but being a transcendent God, whose nature and power is wholly independent of the material universe, beyond all physical laws. Many agree that in that time Jesus descended into the dark place to free men of old during those three days, but then would he have been able to say, “It is finished” on the cross? There is much division about whether Jesus actually went to preach to the lost souls in hell. If that is true then could we say, men still have an opportunity to be saved after death? Or could we say that he just preached to those who lived before him? But then who lived before God? Did not God show himself to all mankind? Did not they have a choice before God sent Jesus? Did not Adam have a choice? This controversy may never reach a definitive conclusion, but the truth is, Jesus said, “It is finished”.