Everything is complete!

Dr. Fr. Davis George

It was three o’clock. Jesus called for water. He could hardly speak. A soldier fixed a sponge on a spear and held it up to his lips. It was terribly bitter but it was enough. He strained to raise his head and look up to heaven. "It is finished," he cried and then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. The words of Jesus from the cross were not the words of a “victim” but the shouts of a “victor”! He did not say “I am finished”! He said, “It is finished!” It is like the cry of one who comes first in 400 meters run at the Olympics and gets the gold medal.  I have made it.

At the time, the moment was filled with too much emotion for those words to sink in and to ponder what they meant. But later as the early Christians read John’s Gospel and heard again those words, it dawned on them just how powerful these dying words of Jesus were. John wrote his Gospel in Greek, and those last words of Jesus are just one word in Greek – tetelestai (pronounced te-tel-es-sty).

The expression "It is finished" or tetelestai was well known to them. It was a part of everyday language. When a servant had completed a difficult job that his master had given him to do, he would say to the master – tetelestai - "I have overcome all the difficulties; I have done the job to the best of my ability. It is finished". When the Jewish people went to the temple with their sacrifice, the High Priest would examine what was brought. Most likely, he didn’t speak Greek but he would use the Hebrew equivalent of tetelestai – meaning, "Your offering is accepted; it is perfect". When an artist had finished a painting or a sculpture he would stand back and say, tetelestai – it is finished; there is nothing more that can be done to make this piece of art any better. This painting is complete.

All those who heard the word tetelestai  understood that Jesus is saying that his job of saving the world has been completed. He has finished the task and nothing can be added to what has been done. Jesus has paid the price in full – he has cancelled all debt. His sacrifice has been a perfect one, acceptable to the heavenly Father who, looking down on his Son hanging lifelessly from the cross, said, "Well done, this is my dear Son with whom I am well pleased". Tetelestai – it is finished. Everything is complete!

What is it that is finished when Jesus says, "It is finished"?

Reconciliation is accomplished. Reconciliation between God and sinful human beings who had gone away from his love. By his cross he was reconciling the world unto himself. (2 Cor 5:19) A terrible gap has come between God and all humanity caused by sin and evil. God created a perfect beautiful world and he made people to live in harmony and peace with one another. But look what’s happened. We all know what an effect our poorly chosen words and lack of consideration have on our relationship with family members and friends. Greed and selfishness destroy friendship and separate people and nations. Sin has a devastating effect on our relationship with God. Sin separates us from God and if we want to have any hope of going to heaven to be with God, then someone had to deal with sin and restore our relationship with God. So God sent his Son into the world for this very purpose.

Jesus died on the cross to get rid of the power of sin and wages of sin which is death. His death bridged the deep gulf between God and us. "Salvation is accomplished", Jesus cried. The restoration of the friendship between God and humanity has been finished. The task for which God's Son came to earth has been completed. He has won forgiveness for all people. Nothing else needs to be done. Salvation is complete. "It is finished".

That’s why we call today "Good Friday". It certainly wasn’t a good day for Jesus. He endured pain, soul-wrenching agony, hanging by the nails in his hands for hours, death on a rough wooden cross, for our sake. We call today "Good Friday" because the cross is proof of the powerful love that God has for each of us. No one, not even God, would do something like that unless he truly loved us. Here we see a love that was prepared to endure the ultimate in order to rescue us.

There is the story of priest who offered his life in place of a teenage boy in Nazi Germany. (Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, volunteered to die in place of a teenage boy whom he did not know in the Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz,  World War II.)  His offer was accepted and the priest died to save the boy’s life.

And then there was the young soldier who had been condemned to death by Oliver Cromwell. He was to be shot at the ringing of the curfew bell. His fiancée climbed the bell tower and tied herself to the clapper of the giant bell so that it would not ring. When the bell did not ring, soldiers went to investigate and found the girl battered and bleeding from being bashed against the sides of the bell. Cromwell was so impressed by her love for the young man that he was pardoned.

Because of love, people do extraordinary things for others. Paul writes, "God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! … We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son." (Romans 5:8,10). That’s how much God loves us – Jesus died for us even though we don’t deserve it. His death has made us God's friends.

Jesus' announcement, "It is finished" is clear and simple. Jesus has completed his task. The reason why he came as a human has been fulfilled. He came so that you and I can have forgiveness and salvation. He came to give us the victory. He came to ensure that we would enter his kingdom and live forever.

Invitation and Challenge

The cross of Jesus was far more than death, suffering and blood. The cross of Jesus was a place of testimony. It was here that God made His greatest declaration of love for lost humanity, (Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10). Christ’s greatest work was accomplished on the cross. When He raised Lazarus from the dead, He helped one man and his family. When He healed the lepers; delivered the demoniacs; opened the blind eyes and healed diseased, twisted bodies; He was helping one person and one family at a time. When He fed the 5,000 thousand, He helped 5,000 men plus women and children. But, when He died on the cross, Jesus was making a difference for every member of Adam’s family who would look to Him by faith. It wasn’t just one man; but it was “whosoever will”, (Rom. 10:13; Rev. 22:17). He could have saved Himself, but He stayed on the cross to save sinners!

What is the cross of Jesus to you? Is it merely a piece of jewelry? Is it just a religious symbol? Is it a talisman(of course we don't believe in this) you hang over your bed to keep the devil away? Is it pure foolishness? Or, is the cross the “power of God unto salvation”? If you will heed the message of the cross, you will find that salvation is still available. You will find that God can still save souls; change eternal destinies and transform sinners into saints of God. (“The Old Rugged Cross”)