INTRODUCTION
U.S. history records the building of a great transcontinental railway which united the country by rail from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In its day it was a tremendous undertaking which at one point was suspended because of financial problems.Eventually, however, it was completed. The last rail was laid on the border between New Mexico and Colorado. Plans had been made to make that day very special. Special laurel wood ties and two silver spikes, one for each state, were used.The governor of each state drove the two silver spikes into the wood tie, thus uniting the States and completing a way of transportation from coast to coast.As the governors drove in the spikes, the crowd applauded and a telegraph wire flashed the news to the rest of the country that the task was finally finished.
Two thousand years earlier there was a day when some spikes were driven, not into a laurel tie, but through the hands and feet of the Son of God and into a cross.They were spikes of iron and they were driven in while heaven and earth looked on. When the last spike was driven, a shout went out and the news flashed forth. “IT IS FINISHED” was the cry of our Savior. The way was now open from earth to heaven! A means of access to God had finally been completed.
The spikes that were driven through the Son of God on that old rugged cross brought God and man together. The distance between man and God was spanned by his reconciling death. Our debt of sin was paid; the cost was great. Such is the message of our morning text.
TEXT
A crowd had gathered to watch the crucifixion of three condemned men. One of them was the sinless, Divine Son of God. Scripture declares that “GOD BECME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US” in the person of Jesus Christ. (John 1:14) Just before He breathed His last breath, our Lord cried out saying, “IT IS FINISHED.”
What a cry of hope that was for our sin-stricken world. The race of Adam, long under the curse of sin, received the joyful news that a full and free salvation had been provided for all. Let’s look in depth at the meaning of this powerful sixth word that fell from the lips of our dying Savior.
“IT IS FINISHED”
Biblical expositors point out that the three words found in our English text, “IT IS FINISHED”, are a single word in the original Greek. It is the word tetelestai. This was a familiar and very descriptive word in Jesus’ day. It had a number of connotations including “it is complete” or “it is accomplished.”“A master would tell his servants to do something and when the servant had completed the task, he would return and say, tetelestai - meaning ‘I have finished the work that you gave me to do.’Jesus used this word because, on the cross, He had finished the work that God had given Him to do. In John 17:4 Jesus prayed to the Father saying, “I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK YOU GAVE ME TO DO.” Tetelestai also meant “the debt is paid.” Archaeologists have repeatedly found its Latin equivalent scrawled across tax receipts used in those days, indicating a debt was paid. Romans 6:23 says “THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH….BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETRNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” In dying on the cross, Christ paid the debt of our sin.
Our debt of guilt has been paid in full.
Tetelestai was also a common phrase used to describe a victor’s triumph. It was a word used by a runner as he was the first to cross the finish line. It was a cry of victory! When Christ uttered this word, He was not whimpering some weak, sad farewell. He was not submissively resigning Himself to the last final throbs of life before death. Rather, He was shouting forth triumphantly like a victor. Jesus used this word to signify the full accomplishment of God’s plan for our salvation. Victory over sin had been completed. Christ had finished His mission; He paid our debt. We can, therefore, be assured of salvation and eternal life in heaven.
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION AND HEAVEN
Allen Iverson, superstar guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, often talks about the death of a close friend of his who was murdered and his thoughts about the afterlife. Iverson says, “When I die, I want to see my friend. I know he’s in heaven and before I die, I want to know that’s where I’m going. I don’t want to guess. I want to know that’s where I’m going.” The good news of the gospel is that we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt! Why can we be so sure of heaven? Simply because heaven depends upon Christ not us. It depends upon the finished work of Christ rather than our good works. Heaven is ours if we “rely in faith on the finished work of the cross which God has been pleased to accept.”
On the cross Christ took my place; He took your place. Since he took our place we can be assured of heaven. We can be absolutely positive that when we die we will enter heaven. If we had to depend upon ourselves then we could never be certain of eternal life. It is a matter of whom we are trusting in. If we are trusting in Christ we can be certain of heaven. If, however, we are trusting in our good works we can never be certain. We trust Christ by repenting of our sin and receiving Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. In doing this our sins are forgiven and we are given the gift of eternal life.
HE TOOK MY PLACE
Dr. Mel Cheatham is clinical professor of neurosurgery. In 1993 he was asked to organize a medical team to establish a neurosurgery department in a hospital in a war torn part of the world. He went to work in a 600 bed hospital for the Bosnian Muslim army helping Dr. Jurisic, the only neurosurgeon in the hospital. With a flashlight for light he operated on a badly wounded soldier, removing a bullet. The soldier was then placed on a ventilator.
That night the hospital’s supply of diesel fuel ran out, the generator failed, the ventilator stopped and the patient died. The next morning Dr. Jurisic took him aside and told him the bad news. He then told him that since he had operated on the man he feared the people would come for him and kill him. Therefore, Dr. Jurisic told Dr. Cheatham, “I have changed the medical record, I have erased your name as surgeon and I have written in my name in place of yours.”
Dr. Cheatham says, “I looked into the eyes of this compassionate man and felt a lump in my throat that I couldn’t swallow away and I didn’t know what to do or say.“At that moment,” he said, “years and years of Sunday school, sermons and books about the Christian life fell away. When I looked at Dr. Jurisic holding the operative report with his name in place of mine, I thought of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who was willing to take my place and die for me on the cross.” Finally, Dr. Cheatham said to Dr. Jurisic, “But, surely, my friend, that means they will come for you, and they will kill you. “ He responded, “I am prepared to die in your place if I must, in order that you might live.” “In that moment,” Dr. Cheatham said, “God’s great gift of eternal life had new meaning to me”
“That is what Jesus did for me at Calvary when He died on the cross for me. He died for the forgiveness of my sins so that I might have eternal life” Can you imagine, Christ took my place and your place so we could be forgiven and guaranteed a place in heaven.
OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS
When Jesus cried “IT IS FINISHED,” He was declaring that His purpose for having come to earth was finished. He had completed His mission. This dying word of Jesus takes us back to earlier words He spoke. “I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS,” He declared in Luke 2:49. The purpose of His existence was to be found in doing God’s work. “MY FOOD,” said Jesus in John 4:34, ‘IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME AND TO FINISH HIS WORK.” Jesus made very clear the nature of His Father’s business when He said “I AM COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST.” (Luke 19:10) “I AM COME TO GIVE MY LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” (Mark10:25) Our ultimate purpose in life is also to be found in doing God’s work. We, too, must be “ABOUT OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS.” Jesus says to us, “AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME SO SEND I YOU.” (John 20:21) Irrespective of our backgrounds, training or vocations, our number one purpose in life is to serve the Lord our God. Each of us has divine work to do; we have tasks to perform and ministries to fulfill. Such is our number one responsibility. James L. Kraft, founder of the Kraft Food empire had it right when he said, “My first job is serving Jesus.” This enormously successful and incredibly busy man often said, “I would rather be a layman in my church then head the greatest corporation in America.” He taught Sunday School and served as a deacon for many years at a Baptist Church in Chicago.
In the third chapter of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of gardening to describe God’s work in the world. In order to reap a harvest, the ground has to be prepared, the seed planted, watered and weeded. So it is with the work of God in the world. The seed of God’s Word must be planted in properly prepared soil and then it must be watered, weeded and harvested. God, through His Holy Spirit, uses us in these tasks. Speaking of these tasks, the apostle says in vs. 6, “I HAVE PLANTED THE SEED, APOLLOS WATERED IT, BUT GOD MADE IT GROW.” Paul is making it clear that God depends upon His followers to do the work of ministry. We all have different tasks to perform if the seed of God’s Word is to bear fruit in our homes, church and community. Each task is of crucial importance. As we make ourselves available God uses us to get His work done. Corinthians 3:9 reminds us that ‘WE ARE LABORERS TOGETHER WIH GOD.”
What an incredible truth; what a life-lifting thought! The Omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of this vast universe is depending upon us to carry out His work on earth. We can make a difference. God needs you and me to be about His business. Never feel that He cannot use you because of your checkered past or your limited abilities. You can live for Christ in this sin-marred world, thereby allowing your “LIGHT TO SHINE SO OTHERS WILL SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.” (Matthew 5:16)You can tell someone about what the Lord has done for you. You can reach out to the lonely, hurting, confused people all around and minister to them. You can invite and bring someone to a church service or Bible study. You can faithfully pray for our local church fellowship. There are so may ways that you can be about our Father’s business.
PERSEVERANCE
Finally, Jesus’ cry “IT IS FINISHED” speaks of His perseverance. When it came to doing the work He had to do, He didn’t give up; He didn’t quit. But don’t think for one moment that he wasn’t tempted to.
Could He not have entertained those thoughts as He heard His apostles backbite and quarrel? It must have been difficult to persevere in the Garden of Gethsemane when His heart was heavy and His disciples weak. As He faced the agony of the cross He could have called ten thousand angels to set Him free. Did He ever want to quit? I am sure He did. That is why His words are so splendid and powerful; ‘IT IS FINISHED.’A cry of completion. A cry of victory. Thank God that He endured” the humiliation and shame and pain. “Are you close to quitting? Please don’t. Are you discouraged as a parent? Are you weary with doing good? Do just a little more. Are you pessimistic about your job? Roll up your sleeves and go at it again. No communication in your marriage? Give it another shot.”
Keep on keeping on. Remember, a finisher is not one with no wounds or weariness. What about your labors for the Lord? Have wounds or weariness made you unfaithful in you ministry? Has the criticism, misunderstanding and the insensitivity of others caused you to entertain thoughts of giving up? Has a lack of fruit pushed you to the point of quitting? Do you feel you haven’t been used by God and can’t be used? Are you discouraged and tempted to give up? Remember all that our Lord willingly endured for you. Don’t quit. You are needed.God is counting on you.
Your labors are not in vain. “An elderly Scottish preacher was rebuked by one of his elders one Sunday morning ‘Pastor,’ said the man, ‘something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There has been only one person added to the church in a whole year and he is just a boy. The minister listened, his eyes moistened and his thin hand trembled. ‘I feel it all,’ he replied, ‘but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.’ On that day the discouraged minister felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that boy came to him and asked, ‘Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a missionary?’ Tears welled up in the minister’s eyes as he said to the youngster, ‘Robert. This heals the ache I feel. I see the Divine hand now. Yes, I think you will become a missionary.’ Decades later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. Through his labors many souls had been added to the Kingdom. This man’s life had had a greater impact for Christ in Africa than any other man with the possible exception of David Livingstone. And David Livingstone went to Africa as a medical missionary because of the challenge pose by this man. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the discouraged pastor that Sunday morning in an old Scottish church. Don’t allow discouragement to cause you to quit serving the Lord. Don’t allow weariness to keep you from your father’s business.Don’t quit because you can’t see how God is using your seemingly feeble and futile efforts. We never know what God is doing and can do through our witness. Keep on keeping on and your life will make a difference for Christ. Your labors will count for eternity.
CONCLUSION
“IT IS FINISHED” was the triumphant shout of our Lord as He died on the cross for us.These words remind us that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. What need to be done has been done by Christ.
The debt has been paid; forgiveness is available to any and all “Nothing remains for us to do but to rely in faith on the finished work of the cross which God was pleased to accept.”“TETELESTAI”, victory over sin and death has been won for us.
New life and eternal life is available to us.
It begins the moment we come to the Cross and receive Christ, trusting in Him as our personal Savior and Lord..
