It Is Finished

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

IT IS FINISHED

Matt 27:47-53

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

NIV

Once again, these Jews, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders were mocking Jesus saying that what he said, which they must not have understood, was that he was calling Elijah. They did not want anyone to help him in any way, but it is interesting they thought that it would be possible for Elijah to come back and help him. They knew their history concerning Elijah being carried away in a whirlwind in a chariot of fire, up into heaven, but they refused all the history about the words concerning Jesus as the Christ. However, now comes the time for Jesus to make the last call, the last words directly to the people. John records those words for us, “It is Finished”, then Jesus gave up his spirit, no one took it from him, he gave it up. “The redemption of my creation is complete” would be another way He could have said it. Of course, we still must look forward to the resurrection, but we are not at that part of the gospel yet. Still, we know the end of the story, not just the resurrection of Jesus, but our resurrection as well, and that we will be where He is because He promised it so. Nevertheless, all that Jesus did and what Jesus just did, but giving up his spirit, dying on the cross, taking on the penalty of death for us, so that we do not have to live under the penalty of death for our sin as he also took all our sin upon himself and put it to death. Now, more happened that day as well. Matthew tells us the moment Jesus gave up his spirit, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This has much significance in that veil or curtain separated man from the presence of God. We know that once a year, the high priest would have to enter the Holy of Holies and make the annual atonement for the children of Israel, and if he did it in any way other than prescribed by God, he was stuck dead in his tracks. But, now with the curtain torn in half from top to bottom that is no separation between God and men. We have, through Jesus, direct access to God the Father. This is why we can pray as Jesus taught us, Our Father, who is in Heaven, holy is your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, amen. Our Father, we can pray directly to the Father, we have full access because when Jesus said that it was finished, it was finished, complete, a done deal, nothing else was needed. He is the only one who could complete it, to get it done. That means we have nothing to do for our redemption, we cannot earn it, work for it, do enough good deeds for it, or pay for it by any means, our salvation, our redemption is a free gift of God, which was done on that cross. All we have to do is accept it, take hold of it, believe in the power of God, and that Jesus finished everything that was needed for our redemption. It is finished.