John 19
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The words translated ‘it is finished’ is in the Greek only one word, ‘finished’. But there’s no earthly tongue which can fully describe the meaning, when He cried out, ‘it is finished’. There’s a great depth in these words, and even in eternity we won’t fully comprehend it. As one studies it one start to understand the fathomless love of God.
It was the Roman custom to write the crime of the criminal above the cross of the condemned as a warning to others not to commit the same crime. His crime was that He was the “king of the Jews”.
The story is told of a beautiful slave girl being auctioned. There was an evil man who wanted to buy her. She cried as she saw how he looked at her. A good businessman saw her crying and asked her what the matter was. She replied that she feared being bought by that evil man, and being with him for the rest of her life. The auction started and the slaves were sold one by one. Eventually it was her turn. The evil man immediately put in a high bid. But the rich businessman put in a higher bid. The evil man once again put in a higher bid. But the good man put in a higher bid again. It continued for awhile, until the evil man couldn’t match the price anymore. He cursed and left. As she was unfettered and taken to the good man, he said to her that she was free to go wherever she liked. She wasn’t his slave either. But she replied that since he saved her life she would willingly serve him the rest of her life.
The evil man represents satan and the good man Jesus Christ. Satan tried to keep us bound, but Jesus overcame and has set us free. What will you do with your new freedom? Will you freely choose to serve Jesus for the rest of your life (as Paul was a bond slave of Jesus Christ, Rom 1:1) or simply live for yourself? It would be totally unthankful if you simply live for yourself after that which He had done for you.
Behold His love. See how much God loves you. If you ever doubt that God loves you, look at the Cross.
Gen 3
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
From the beginning God has already defeated satan.
When God told Abraham to offer Isaac, He also intervened so that Isaac was spared and a ram offered instead. This was revealed long ago that Jesus the perfect Lamb of God, would die for us.
In Ps 22 we read of the suffering of Jesus and we see in Jesus’ death how it was fulfilled.
In Jesus being stripped of His clothing, He did it so you can be clothed in His righteousness.
That word, ‘finished’ also means, ‘paid in full’.
Hell was shaken on that day. Satan was defeated.
Jesus brought about a new meaning to family. God made us one with Him, in His family. If you still notice race you haven’t met Jesus who united all who believe in Him, in one family.
Paul writes in Rom 8, that we can now call God, “Abba Father” (Rom 8:15). He is not only our God, but also our Father.
Read in Ps 57 and Philippians 2 how He humbled Himself for your sake and mine.
Jesus promised that the one who believes in Him and drink of the Water of Life will never thirst again, but the Water that Jesus gives will become a spring unto eternal life (John 4:14).
He emptied Himself of all He had for you, so that you might be filled with His Spirit. What is your response? His love is endless.
Your response should be, ‘Lord take my life and complete Your work in me’.
Your guilt has been paid in full. If it means nothing to you then hell is deservedly yours.