IT IS FINISHED
GOOD FRIDAY 2001
I am sure like me you have often said, with some satisfaction, ‘It is finished.’ Sometimes we hear children say those words and we know that the opposite is actually the case. This Good Friday I want just to spend a few moments thinking together what Jesus meant when he said ‘It is finished.’
“It is finished” – this was the cry of Jesus moments before he gave up his spirit and died on the cross. But what is finished? What does this cry of Jesus mean?
First let us be clear what ‘it is finished’ means. It is three words in our language but in Greek it is only one word – ‘tetelestai.’ Tetelestai means it is finished, it is accomplished, it is completed, the work is done, it stands finished, it will always be finished. Tetelestai was an everyday Greek word.
A Servant would use tetelestai to tell his master that he had completed the work/task set for him.
A Priest would say tetelestai in relation to the sacrifice offered by someone at the temple, meaning it is perfect, it is accepted.
A Merchant would state tetelestai when a debt had been fully paid for a purchase. It would mean paid in full.
An Artist would use the word tetelestai when he had completed his work. He would step back and exclaim tetelestai – it is finished, the picture is completed and excellent work.
So let us now turn to Christ and seek to understand what he meant by saying tetelestai before he gave up his spirit and died.
Jesus’ Life is Finished.
Jesus’ life was finished, it was ended. He was a living, breathing human being. We know from the gospels that he was like any other man, except for sin. He ate and drank, slept and walked, preached and prayed. But now all that was finished. His life was at an end. In a moment he would die. In verse 30b we read that he then bowed his head and gave up his spirit. I have sat with many people as they have died. It has always been the same: a fight for each breath, a struggle to hang on to life, a battle to the very end. Not so with Christ. He submitted himself to death. He embraced death. He died willingly, of his own accord. But then he had already stated that he would in John 1017-18 READ. He died willingly for you and for me. He died willingly so that his death would overcome the power of death in our lives and bring us the hope of salvation and the resurrection to new life.
Jesus’ Redemptive Work is Finished.
When people die at a young age we often say that they leave much unfinished business behind. The world speculates what J F K Kennedy would have achieved if he had not been assassinated. My dad tells me that Duncan Edwards would have been one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen if he had not died at Munich. Jesus also died at a young age but his work of redemption was finished and so he said ‘it is finished.’ Jesus had completed the work that his father had sent him to do on earth. His work of salvation was now completed. In John 174 Jesus says this on the night before he died, ‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.’ Jesus had completed all that was required by the Father for our salvation. Everything that was needed to atone for our sin, a perfect life of righteousness to present as an atoning sacrifice had been completed. Nothing more was or is needed. No other sacrifice is required. There is absolutely nothing you and I can add to the sacrifice of Christ. There is absolutely nothing you and I can contribute to his sacrifice – Jesus has done it all that is why he said ‘it is finished.’
Scripture’s Promises are Fulfilled.
As I said earlier tetelestai can mean to bring to fulfilment, completion. In verse 28 of Luke 19 we read that Jesus ‘knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.. .’ now Jesus uses the same word at the end of his life – it is finished.
Let me share just a few of the Scriptures which were fulfilled by Christ:
Gen. 315 should be of the woman’ seed, he was born of a woman – Gal. 44.
Born of a virgin Isaiah 714. Then it was literally fulfilled in Matt. 118
Line of David (2 Sam.712,13) and it was so (Rom. 13).
Seed of Abraham (Gen.2218) fulfilled in Matt.11.
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 52) the very village of his birth.
That his birth would entail sorrow for others (Jer. 3115) and we read of the tragic fulfilment of that (Matt.214-15).
Of John the Baptist as the forerunner (Mal. 31).
Of the blind and the lame healed (Isa.355-6) and in the gospels we read of it happening.
Of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 99) and it came to pass.
How he would be despised and rejected by men (Isa.533) and this week we have heard of that all over again.
His being numbered with the transgressors in his death (Isa.5312) and it was so.
Of his crucifixion (Ps.22) and it came to pass.
The drinking of wine vinegar (Ps. 6921), the committal of his spirit into the hands of the Father (Ps. 315), the piercing of his side (Zech. 1210), his bones not being broken (Ps. 3420), his burial in a rich man’s tomb (Is. 539) – all these were foretold and came to pass.
More than 300 promises and more than 300 prophecies, about the Messiah had been fulfilled and he could say ‘it is finished.’
The Accomplishment of Atonement.
The purpose of the coming of Christ Jesus was this:
The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 1910). Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim.115). The ‘lost’ could only be found in the place of death and under the condemnation of God. Sinners could only be saved by One taking their place and bearing their sins. They who were under the Law could only be redeemed by Another fulfilling its requirements and suffering its curse. Our sins could be taken away only by their being blotted out by the precious blood of Christ. The demands of justice must be met, the requirements of God’s Holiness must be satisfied, the awful debt we incurred must be paid and on the Cross all of this was accomplished.
It is finished – it is what the OT looked forward to was now accomplished.
A covering from sin and its shame – typified by the animal skins with which the Lord God clothed Adam and Eve was now provided. The more excellent sacrifice typified by Abel’s lamb had now been offered. A shelter from the storm of Divine judgment typified by Noah’s ark was now furnished. The only-begotten and well-beloved Son typified by Abraham’s offering up of Isaac had already been placed upon the altar. A protection form the avenging angel typified by the shed blood of the Passover-lamb was now supplied. A cure form the serpent’s bit typified by the serpent of brass upon the pole was now made ready for sinners. The providing of a life-giving fountain typified by Moses striking the rock was now effected.
It is finished – it was all accomplished in Christ on the Cross. Finally Isaiah 536 “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquities of us all.” God laid my sin on Jesus, they are no longer on me. Sin there is in me, for the old Adamic nature remains in me until my death or Christ’s return, but there is no sin on me. This is a vital distinction. If I say the judge passed sentence on a criminal and that he is now under sentence of death – you would know what I meant. Everyone not born again, outside of Christ has God’s judgment upon them. But those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation – the guilt, the condemnation and the penalty of sin is no longer upon him. And why? Because Christ bore our sins in His own body on the Cross. The guilt, the judgment, the penalty and the condemnation was transferred to our Substitute. And because he has said ‘it is finished’ – it is finished for me.
This Good Friday know again in your heart that ‘it is finished’. Christ has accomplished salvation, fulfilled all Scripture, fulfilled the requirements of the Law, accomplished atonement, overcome death and all so that you might know your sin forgiven and life eternal. This evening know ‘it is finished’ and thank Christ Jesus for that.
Amen.
