It is Finished

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

IT IS FINISHED

John 19:25-30

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"  27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 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

Much has been debated over the years regarding these three women all with the name, Mary. Nevertheless, they were all there along with John. He does not tell us if any of the other disciples made it to the foot of the cross. Certainly, because of the spectacle of the crucifixion and especially because it was Jesus, there must have been somewhat of a crowd in close proximity to the cross. John does not include, as Luke does, any of the exchange between Jesus and one of the thieves that hung on either side of him. That is an interesting conversation because Jesus told him that today he would be in paradise with Him. As a side thought, if Jesus told this man that he would be with Jesus this very day in Paradise, then first, Jesus knew this man would also die this day, and second, when Jesus does give up his spirit, he went to paradise, not Sheol. This word is the Hebrew word used for Hades or Hell. It has been the position of many believers that when Jesus was buried and spent three days in the grave, that he went to the place of the departed souls, Sheol, and preached the good news. It seems this position has been taken mostly from 1 Peter 3 and of course the Apostles Creed so states he descended into hell. Many position papers and commentaries have been written both in support and in opposition to this position. We cannot or should not oppose the standard view of most denominations that cite the Apostles Creed as part of their faith. However, it bothers us that Jesus made it clear to this thief that this very day he would be in Paradise with Jesus. If Jesus went to hell during the three days his body was in the grave, then where was this thief, in paradise with Jesus, or in hell with Jesus? Maybe that is why John does not give us this detail, so as to not take away from showing the divinity of Jesus. What John does make sure to tell us is that Jesus, even as he was on the cross, made provisions for his mother. We have learned that in that time women usually did not have an identity of their own. They were either the daughter of a man, the wife of a man, or the mother of a man. Although we are not told, we have to think Joseph is already dead, and Mary the mother of Jesus, has her identity in being his mother. So as he is about to leave, he transfers her identity as his mother to be the mother of John. Just before these words, we were told about the soldiers dividing his garments, which is recorded in Psalm 22. When Jesus said, which John does not record, about asking God why he forsook him, He was also quoting from Psalm 22, and when he said he was thirsty, he was quoted from Psalm 69. Jesus was always teaching, always showing us the truth, even from the cross. How could God actually turn his back on Jesus, just because he took our sin? If that is true than ever time we commit some kind of sin, God turns his back on us, and we know that is not the case. He promised He would never leave nor forsake us. Jesus was teaching us that even in our most desperate of times, when we might feel alone, God is always there. So after John tells us that Jesus made sure his mother was cared for, he concluded his time as fully man, and gave up his spirit, or breathe. The Greek word there is used as a current of air, breathe. We know Jesus did not relinquish his divine Spirit. He simply stopped breathing like a man, allowing the body, in which he came to earth in, to die. This had to happen so his body would be buried and on the third day be brought back to life, breathe to return to it, but in a gloried state. It was changed, the body was not simply fully man and fully God, as a man could not appear through a locked door as he did to his disciples. However, his words, “It is finished” carry the whole of our salvation. His sacrifice for our sins was complete, it is finished, and he accomplished what he came to do, save us from the penalty of death because of sin.  He paid the price, it was done, and now he could return to his rightful place in Heaven at the right hand of the Father. There is nothing else to do, Jesus finished it. There is nothing we can do, Jesus did it all, and it is finished.