Introduction
“It is finished”,
said Jesus. What was “finished”? Certainly not his life, for he would rise
again very soon! And besides, this verb (all one word in Greek = tetelestai),
is in the third person [actually a third person singular perfect passive
indicative verb]. Thus the “It” refers to something else. Perhaps though, we
should pause to think, that in this moment, there was the lifting of all the
burden of ministry and suffering that had been laid on Jesus. We could
understand that. But still, there was more to it.
The translation
“finished” could easily be translated “accomplished” i.e. “It is accomplished”.
It was the purpose for which Jesus came that was accomplished – mission
accomplished! Jesus has completed the work that God had given him to do. In
John 4:34 we read Jesus saying, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me
and to complete his work”. And then later in John 17:4 Jesus said, “I glorified
you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do”.
What was that
work/mission?
There was a work
of ministry, and there was a work of redemption.
Ministry
Jesus taught a
whole new value system based around loving others.
Jesus healed
people as signs of God’s compassion.
Jesus
demonstrated that mercy and forgiveness, not judgment, is the way forward for
God’s people.
Jesus challenged
us to get beyond any prejudices or fears and embrace people that we would not
necessarily engage with.
Jesus shone a
light on all sorts of darkness especially any forms of injustice.
Even here, in the
midst of the torture of the cross, Jesus provided an extraordinary example of
care for others, as he made provision for his mother’s future (in the home of
his disciple John). Mary would have been experiencing deep grief, and this
serves to remind us of the need to support those who are hurting and in pain,
for these are the works of God. Works of love are paramount for the disciples
of Jesus.
Redemption
Ultimately Jesus
gave up his life so that we could all freely embrace God and experience
salvation. Here is the forgiveness of our sins, and our release from shame and
guilt. Jesus was redeeming us back to God. Jesus was paying the ransom so that
we might be able to return to our Father God. Truly we can be born afresh,
given a new start, not restricted by the brokenness and negativity of the past.
We have all been
created with the need to form relationship with our loving Creator. Each of us
is incomplete without a relationship with God. While God has always fully loved
us, lots of stuff has got in the way of us fully loving him. We have given
other things priority, we have repeated our mistakes in pursuing certain
less-than-best objectives. We have sinned, we have failed. And, we know, most
of us, somewhere deep within, there is something … rather Someone … missing.
God knew each of
us and loved us in our mother’s womb.
As we were born,
God saw our personality and potential and loved us intently.
As we were
carefree children, running amuck through our parents’ lives, driving our
teachers mad, God loved us then.
In our first
times of rebellion, when we started to ignore God, and maybe hurt others, God
still loved us.
And now, with the
possibility that we are battered and broken people, nothing has changed – God’s
love remains.
No wonder God
took such extreme measures to bring us back to him!
God had felt the
loss of us.
God didn’t remain
passive about this, but took steps to right the situation.
Enter Jesus!
We talk about
God’s love. God is Love. In his self-giving, Jesus fully represented all of who
God is. If we want to know what God is like, then we look at Jesus … and we see
what God is like. Jesus showed himself to be our primary point of reference
when it comes to knowing God – the ‘bread of life’, the ‘light of the world’,
the ‘great shepherd’, the ‘lamb of God’ who takes away the sins of the world.
We see many
people trying to get close to their favourite stars of music, film or sport
only to be blocked by barricades, security guards and just the extent of the
crowd. It appears that they never even get close! In our desires to connect
with God, we seem to be blocked by the guilt and the shame that has built up
over time. But in this case, the magnificent forgiveness offered from the cross
breaks through all that stands in our way.
It may be that we
have previously sensed some degree of forgiveness, but we have never really
been released through the power of the cross. Sometimes we live in prisons of
our own making. God does NOT want us to stand separate from him any longer!
Down with those barricades!! Gone those prison bars! Jesus identifies with our
need and takes our burdens upon himself on to the cross. Can we identify with
him, and accept that he did this for me?
What Jesus has
done for us is complete! Nothing further needs to be done. Part of what was
“finished” was any continuation of the old idea of achieving your own
salvation. No more striving, no more temple sacrifices, nothing to be earned
through effort. Striving harder, doesn’t, on its own, make us
feel any better about ourselves. Now it would just be a humble response to
Jesus alone – a readiness to receive a free gift of grace.
Jesus fulfilled all
of what earlier scriptures and prophecies had indicated about God’s provision
of salvation. Jesus had become the point of decision … the way to know God –
some would reject him, and some would follow him. Which are we?
Conclusion
The powers that
be think they have successfully dispensed with Jesus – that the cross means
victory for them; but how wrong could they be. Jesus, rather than dying a
needless death, was actually releasing God’s love … so that lives might be
transformed. Many will still be confused as to what sort of “king” Jesus is,
but those who come to the cross with humility and faith … will know that Jesus
is the King of a Spiritual Kingdom where lives are changed and human
communities are influenced to the good.
So here was a cry
of relief … “It is finished” … because the suffering and continual self-giving
in the face of rejection was over!? And here was a shout of
triumph … because sin was defeated and victory was at hand … “It is
finished”!?!? Definitely, yes!
“Eternal life” …
life in all its fullness … begins at the foot of the cross.
We can end our
struggle at the foot of the cross – where we find love, grace, forgiveness, and
hope for tomorrow.
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