“IT IS FINISHED” - John 19:30
For every person, there will come a last
meal, a last breath and, of course, a last
statement. And in many ways, what we
say in the end is a real insight into what
we were in life, what we stood for and
indeed lived for. Generally, we die as we
have lived.
2. I read about a man who had been very
successful in the restaurant business and
had established many restaurants around
the United States. When his life was
almost over, as he was on his deathbed
with his family gathered nearby, he gave
his last whisper: "Slice the ham thin!"
a. On Nov. 30, 1900, the last words of the
famous writer Oscar Wilde were, "Either
that wallpaper goes, or I do."
b. Sometimes, people know they are
giving their last words. Before he was to
be hanged for spying on the British, the
last words of American patriot Nathan
Hale were: "I only regret that I have but
one life to lose for my country."
c. And at other times, people don't know when
they will be giving their last words, such as
John F. Kennedy, who said, "That's obvious!"
This statement was made in response to Nellie
Connally, the wife of Texas Governor John
Connally, who had remarked to the president
as they traveled by motorcade through Dallas,
cheered by adoring throngs, "Mr. President,
you certainly can't say that Dallas doesn't love
you."
Seconds later his life was cut short by an
assassin's bullets.
3. George Washington, (1732-1799)
"It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid
to go.”
Daniel Webster, (1782-1852) "I still
live."
John Quincy Adams, (1767-1848)
"This is the last of earth! I am content."
4. And death is no respecter of persons,
even for royalty. On her deathbed,
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, said, "All
my possessions for a moment of time."
And Princess Diana, following that
horrific car accident in a Paris tunnel,
was heard to say, "My God, what
happened
?"
5. History tells the story of the renowned
atheist Voltaire, who was one of the most
aggressive antagonists of Christianity. He
wrote many things to undermine the church,
and once said of Jesus Christ, "Curse the
wretch. In 20 years, Christianity will be no
more. My single hand will destroy the edifice
it took 12 apostles to rear." Needless to say,
Voltaire was less than successful. And on his
deathbed, a nurse who attended him was
reported to have said, "For all the wealth in
Europe, I would not see another atheist die."
The physician, waiting up with Voltaire at
his death, said that he cried out with utter
desperation, "I am abandoned by God
and man. I will give you half of what I am
worth if you will give me six months of
life. Then I shall go to hell and you will go
with me, oh, Christ, oh, Jesus Christ!"
(His printing press printed more Bibles
than he ever destroyed by his words.)
6. What a difference faith makes.
The last words of Stephen, who was
being stoned to death, were, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit. ... Lord,
do not charge them with this sin."
(Acts 7:59-60)
(Transition) Now let's consider the
most famous and important "last words"
ever uttered: the words of Jesus as He
hung on the cross. I want to focus on
one statement in particular, for in it we
see Victory and not Defeat as
sometimes believed by may.
Jesus made seven statements while
hanging on the Cross;
“Father, Forgive them, for they know not what they do”
Luke 23:34
… “today you shall be with me in Paradise”
Luke 23:43
“Woman behold your son… Behold your mother”
John 19:26,27
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46
“I thirst” John 19:28 AND ----“It Is Finished” John 19:3
Finally – Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit” Luke 23:46
Jesus had been taken to be crucified on the cross, and
death by crucifixion was really death by suffocation.
It was extremely hard even to breathe, much less
speak. Add to this the fact that He had been brutally
scourged. The process of scourging was barbaric. The
prisoner was tied to a post with his hands over his
head, his body taut. The whip had a short, wooden
handle with several leather thongs attached, each
tipped with sharp pieces of metal or bone. As the
whip was brought down on the prisoner, his muscles
would be lacerated, veins and arteries would be torn
open, and even the kidneys, spleen, or other organs
could be exposed and slashed.
Then there was the crucifixion itself, which would
cause you to turn away in revulsion at the sight of it.
There has never been a movie or painting I've seen
that has even come close to depicting what really
happened when Jesus died – that is, until Mel
Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." I don't know
that any artist or filmmaker could ever capture all that
happened on that day, but this film gives us a
glimpse of the incredible suffering Jesus went
through for us. Even Gibson has acknowledged that
what actually happened to Jesus in His scourging
and crucifixion was probably much worse than
depicted in his film.
The one statement we are interested in
this Morning is found in John 19:30.
As we look at the last words of Jesus,
then, what do they tell us about how Jesus
dies? In verse 30, we read: ‘When Jesus
had received the sour wine, he said, “It
is finished”, and he bowed his head and
gave up his spirit.’
II. What His Last Words Tell Us;
A. With all the Agony of the Cross, we
see the Glory of the Cross, the
Glory of Christ, and the Glory of
what He Accomplished.
Literally - In His “Last Words”
WE SEE THE VICTORY not a
Defeat. As some would believe or
want us to believe.
With all He suffered the only time He
makes any referral to it is when He makes
the statement “I Thirst” in John 19:28.
B. He fulfilled ALL PROPHECY
WHICH SPOKE OF HIM and his Mission.
C. He gave eternal Life to all by his Death
… “since you have given him authority over
all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you
have given him.” John 17:2
D. He brought ALL the Words of God
to us – “For I have given them the words
that you gave me, and they have received
them and have come to know in truth that
I came from you; and they have believed
that you sent me.”
John 17:8
Jesus gave us the message from the
Father: That He came from the Father to
give man eternal life, that that is the only
truth, that God’s people through the
drawing of the Father believed in Jesus.
E. He came to Make
Atonement/Reconcilation possible for all of
Mankind Isaiah 59:1&2 - Romans 5:11.
F. He came to bear OUR PUNISHMENT
FOR OUR SINS and to set THE EXAMPLE
I PETER 2:21 – 25 & 3:18
G. He came to call His People from
Darkness and Lead them to Light, to bring
mercy to those who had no hope of Mercy
I PETER 2:9-10
H. He came to pay a DEBT WE (I) COULD
NOT PAY - He became the APPEASMENT
(PROPITIATION) of God’s Justice
(2)“AND HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPITIATION FOR
OUR SINS AND NOT OURS ONLY BUT ALSO FOR THE
WHOLE WORLD.” ….
(9)“IN THIS LOVE OF GOD WAS AMNIFESTED
TOWARD US, THAT GOD HAS SENT HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD, THAT WE
MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM (10) IN THIS LOVE,
NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED
US AND SENT HIS SON TO BE THE PROPITIATION
FOR OUR SINS.”
I JOHN 2:2 & 4:9-10
In the “old days” when a debt was paid it
was “spindled” meaning that it was now paid
in full – it was finished. When Jesus was
“nailed” to the Cross – His part was
finished.
Finished – Paid in Full
Hodge tells us in his book that the phrase used
here by Christ “IT IS FINISHED” -“is One
Greek word/phrase - tetelestai. This is the
greatest single word ever said.
"Tetelestai" doesn’t translate simply, we have to make a phrase out of it
- "It is finished." But still some of its power is lost in the translation.
In the Greek it implies that something has come to an end, it has been
completed, perfected, accomplished in the full and that something has
consequences that will endure on and on.
"Tetelestai." The most powerful single word of all of Jesus ministry. It
was also his last word. It was the word that turned this apparent
tragedy into a scene of Victory that shook the earth, split rocks,
changed history, raised saints from the dead and tore away the temple
curtain that kept people out of the Holy of Holies.
"Tetelestai" the most powerful word in history. Even more powerful than
the words of creation in Genesis chapter 1 where God spoke and the
universe came into existence. This word could not simply be spoken.
The son of God had to die to speak it.
peter wilkinson on 3 October, 2007
Was this a cry of defeat, of frustration? Was
Jesus saying merely, that his earthly life
was over, ending in defeat?
When we hear the word, we realize
how little we know. Only Jesus, with
one word, could sum up the entire
plan of redemption! It will take all of
Eternity for us to grasp what our
Salvation means! Jesus is the only
one who fully did what God wants
done! He said tetelestai. Jesus
came to do God’s will. Man who is
lost in sin, now has a Savior.”
WHEN JESUS SAID ‘IT IS FINISHED’,
THIS WAS HIS SHOUT OF TRIUMPH, THE
FIRST PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL.
THE SHOUT OF JESUS IS GOOD NEWS,
BECAUSE OF WHY HE DIES,
FOR YOU AND ME.
As noted earlier:
For every person, there will come a last meal,
a last breath and, of course, a last
statement. And in many ways, what we say
in the end is a real insight into what we
were in life, what we stood for and indeed
lived for. Generally, we die as we have
lived.
Jesus died as He had lived,
completing his Mission here on the
Earth for You and Me.
“It is Finished”
WHAT Will WE DO WITH WHAT HE
GAVE US?
What MUST You Do to Be Saved?
Hear The Word Of God
Romans 10:17
Believe His Word
Mark 16:16, John 8:24
Repent of your sins
Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38
Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37
Be Baptized
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38
For the Remission of Your Sins
Acts 22:16
Galatians 3:26, 27
Live Faithfully
Titus 2:11-14