It Was Finished

Scriptures: ’Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ”I am thirsty.”…When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” ’ (Matthew 27:45-46)

Watching our son graduating from high school was both an exciting and an emotional experience. Starting from the preparation for his prom, what to wear, who’s the date, what flower to buy, to the attendance of his graduation ceremony, we all of a sudden realized that our son had grown into a young adult.

He’s not that little boy I could carry on my shoulder any more. He’s not that little boy demanding a bed time story any more. He’s not that little boy who relied on us to drive him everywhere any more. He had graduated from high school, a milestone in his life, and in ours as well. To him, the old boyhood and high school days had gone and a new chapter in life had begun.

As I meditate on the words Jesus spoke on the cross, I came to the part recorded in the bible where it says Jesus who, “knowing that all was now completed…” (Matthew 27:45) and later said, “It is finished.” (Matthew 27:46) I paused and asked myself, “What was finished?” Was it His suffering? Maybe. Was it His earthly ministries? Maybe.

But, the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that it was referred to His atoning sacrifice on the cross, the essential part of God’s salvation for all. He hung there on the cross, the place where we should be. He suffered there, the suffering meant to be for us. He did all these, just like all sacrifices given before Him, except that He did it only once and His work stays effective till eternity. The book of Hebrews tells us, “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.” (Hebrews 7:27)

Jesus knew all was completed, right there and then. He went through utter darkness and became sin for us. He was separated from our heavenly Father with whom there had never been any separation for eternity. Yet, for us, they were temporarily separated. He bore our sins, the very thing contradictory to His nature of holiness. Yet, He did it anyway.

Why? Because He loves us. His love was so great that it compelled Him to come and share our pain and suffering in life. His love was so great that it moved Him to die and pay for the wages of our sins. His love was so great that, even in the midst of all these unimaginable sufferings, He still pleaded to the Father for us. Such was His love that I cannot fathom. But, I am thankful! I am moved! I am humbled!

Because of Him and His cross, “the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Corinthians 5:17) Henceforth, a new chapter in human history, and in my life, has begun. The power of sin has no grip on me. Like our son’s graduation from high school, except this has an eternal implication, I am truly free and am empowered to pursue the riches God has in place for me! It’s all because of Him, Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer!

It was finished for He had paid the ransom! It was finished for He had shed His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! It was finished for our days in darkness were over! It was finished for the block that prevented us from approaching the Throne of Mercy Seat has been removed! IT WAS FINISHED! Praise the Lord!

Prayer Requests:
For spiritual renewal in all believers

Prayer:
Our loving Father, thank You for Jesus, the Lamb of God, who accomplished the atoning salvation on the cross for us. Help us to move beyond theological understanding of your Son’s sacrificial death on the cross and grow into a deeper unification with our Savior in every aspect of our lives so that this Good Friday and Easter will be another life transforming moments in our relationship with you and in our ministries to others in Your name! In the wonderful name of Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer, we pray, Amen!