It Is Finished.

“It is finished” was one of the final phrases that Jesus uttered on the cross. Brian shares Jesus’ final words.

When Jesus Said, “It is Finished.”

In John’s gospel we read,

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  (John 19:28-30)

“All was now finished.”  Jesus said, “‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” 

Jesus had said,

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)

Now, at last, right after he says, “It is finished”, the Bible says he bowed his head, he rested his head.

A Prayer to the Father

In his prayer to his father, Jesus has said,  

“I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4).

He faced a wilderness of hunger and been challenged and tested for forty days by the most powerful black angel, the devil. He walked out on a raging sea and put it to sleep like placing a child for a nap. He sent thousands of demons to their knees begging for mercy. 

He supernaturally healed blindness and deafness, paralysis and leprosy, disease and even death. He fulfilled over 400 Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.

The one who now says, “I thirst”, gave living water to a woman that took away her thirst forever.  The one who hung in darkness was the Light of the world who gave light to the blind.  The one whose legs are nailed to the cross gave strength and action to paralyzed legs.

Four Miracles From the Cross

Even as he looks so powerless on the cross, he does 4 miracles of amazing power.  He tears a curtain in the Jerusalem temple that is 60 feet high and 4 inches thick.  He splits rocks and breaks open the ground beneath him with an earthquake. 

He cancels death and raises many from their graves. He blackens the light of a sun that burns 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.

Why Did Jesus Die?

What did Jesus have to do in order to die?  The immortal, invisible God had to become a flesh and blood human being. He had to have a body so his heart and breathing could now stop.  That body had to flow with blood that he now pours out to wash away sin. The Bible says that people are not forgiven their sin because of,

“perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”  (1 Peter 1:18-19)

All this was planned by God before the world was even created. But why? First Peter 1:20 gives the answer: 

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” 

“For the sake of you.”  Who are the people Peter is talking to? He explains in the next verse,

“You who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:21).

Is that you? Are you a believer in Jesus with your faith and hope in God? If you are, Jesus words are for you – “It is finished.” No more trying to earn your place in heaven. No more working as hard as you can to deserve Jesus’ love. As Jesus rested his head, you can now rest all your hope and faith on him. 

When Jesus said, “It is Finished!” What do you think He meant? Share with us. Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.