When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30, ESV)
When Jesus announced on the cross that "It is finished", He indicated that His mission in life had been completed, that He had finished bearing on the cross the Father’s righteous anger against sinful man, that He had claimed victory over sin, death and the devil, that He had finished the task of salvation and had opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all who believed in Him. These three words say it all. The job was done, the victory complete, the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God finished.
While these words brought an end to the excruciating agony of the cross and were said immediately before Jesus’ death, they are, to me, perhaps my favorite words in the entire Bible. "It is finished". Jesus has borne on the cross the punishment for my sins, so I no longer must suffer for them. "It is finished". Jesus has traded His perfection for my filthy life. "It is finished". My salvation has been accomplished. "It is finished". My sins are forgiven. "It is finished". The Kingdom of Heaven has been opened to miserable sinners like me. "It is finished". It’s over. Done. The war has been won. The devil has lost.
Hearing these words almost brings me to tears. Not tears of sadness that Jesus had humiliated Himself by becoming man, had lived a perfect, sinless life, only to be unfairly condemned, mocked, scorned and beaten ruthlessly, and ultimately hung on a tree to die like a common criminal. Instead, tears of joy. Like winning the lottery, only many times better. Like the best day of my life, only greatly amplified. Like a condemned man given a last second pardon.
What God has done is beyond comprehension. Why would the all-powerful Creator of the universe humble Himself for miserable creatures like us? The horrific pain of being mercilessly flogged, the intense agony of hanging on the cross, the grotesque shame of being publicly crucified, the unimaginable suffering of His Father placing the sins of all mankind on Him and forsaking Him in His final hour, all these things He did for us. Why? His love for us must be beyond measure, that’s the only explanation that makes sense. We certainly don’t deserve any of it.
"It is finished." The work of salvation is complete. The state of humiliation is over. The state of exaltation begins. Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God led to the slaughter on the cross is now Jesus, the Savior and Lord of all. Our Lord and our Savior. Our hope. Our salvation. Our Redeemer. Our King, now and forever.
As we observe Holy Week, the Maundy Thursday celebration of Passover and the institution of Holy Communion, the Good Friday suffering and death of our Lord and Savior, and the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection in glory, let’s remember what Jesus, what God, has done for us. Let’s remember the intense love He has for us. Let’s celebrate the joy of the forgiveness won for us on Calvary!