This sermon explores the profound significance of Jesus' words "It is finished," focusing on the fulfillment of prophecy, the finality of His sacrifice, and our resulting freedom.
Good morning, beloved, and welcome. I trust and pray that God's grace has been abundant in your life this week. Today, we find ourselves gathered here, not by chance nor by circumstance, but by divine appointment. We are here, you and I, to meet with God in this sacred space, to hear His Word, to seek His face, and to know His heart.
We turn today to the Gospel of John, chapter 19, verse 30. The words we will consider are few, but oh, the weight they carry. They are words that echo through the corridors of time, words that have changed the course of history, words that hold within them the very essence of our faith. "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished': and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
It is finished. Three words in English, one word in Greek. Tetelestai. A word heavy with meaning, steeped in significance. It is a word that speaks of fulfillment, of finality, and of freedom.
As we turn our attention to the words of Jesus on the cross, we find ourselves standing on holy ground. These words, "It is finished," hold within them a depth of meaning that is both profound and deeply personal. They speak to the heart of God's plan for humanity, a plan that was set in motion before the foundation of the world and was brought to fruition in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The words of Jesus on the cross were the culmination of a series of events that had been prophesied centuries before. The prophets of old, moved by the Spirit of God, spoke of a Messiah who would come to redeem His people. They spoke of a suffering servant, a lamb led to the slaughter, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.
These prophecies were not vague or ambiguous. They were specific and detailed, painting a picture of the Messiah that was both startling and compelling. The prophet Isaiah, for example, spoke of the Messiah's birth, His ministry, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. He described the Messiah as one who would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
The fulfillment of these prophecies in the life of Jesus is nothing short of miraculous. It is a testament to the sovereignty of God, who is able to bring about His purposes in the world despite the opposition and rebellion of humanity. It is a testament to the faithfulness of God, who keeps His promises and fulfills His word.
The words of Jesus on the cross, then, are the words of the Messiah. They are the words of fulfillment, the words that signal the completion of God's plan for redemption. But the fulfillment of prophecy includes the present and the future. The words of Jesus on the cross are a reminder that God is still at work in the world today, fulfilling His promises and accomplishing His purposes.
The words of Jesus on the cross are also a promise of what is to come. They are a promise that God's plan for redemption is not yet complete, that there is still more to come. They are a promise of a future hope, a hope that is grounded in the faithfulness of God and the finished work of Christ on the cross.
As we continue to reflect on the weighty words of Jesus, "It is finished," we encounter the second dimension of this declaration ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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