In preparation for the last sunday of the month of July, i want us all to ponder on this passage of the bible from the book of John 19:30 which says “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Jesus spoke the word on the cross after he has passed through several trials, temptations and sufferings to signify the end of His mission on earth and the beginning of the great commission.
This statement was in fulfillment of the scriptures for he was sent to redeem mankind back to God. His entire mission was that of redemption after the fall of man in the Garden of eden.
“It is Finished” is a phrase that signifies that he has fufilled all the requirements/ prerequisites for the redemption and salvation if mankind.
Jesus literally was telling His father that he has executed the mission and have satisfied all requirements for man to be redeemed back to Him, for he has accomplished all that was written in the prophecies and suffered a great deal to grant the sinner man access into the holy of holies made manifest through the blood that was shed on the cross of calvary.
The experience isn’t one to be emulated, it was a gory experience yet a glorious ending. Through His death man was given access to God through Him. He successfully reconciled man to God and the kingdom of heaven was made open to those who believe and are born again.
The statement it is finished and the conditions in which the statement was made is similar to a student writing an exam or a warrior out for a battle who shout Eureka at the end of the battle.
After this statement was made, the bible said in Mathew 27:59-53
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.(A)
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(B) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(C) 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[a] went into the holy city(D) and appeared to many people. These manifestations indicated that Christ has completely redeemed man and we now have access to God directly.
It is finished signifies the completion of the ultimate sacrifice. The bible said after he shouted it again he gave up His ghost.
He wasn’t killed nor were his hones broken to quicken his death. No he willingly gave up his life which was impossible for man to do. He gave himself as a free willingly offering for the redemption of man and not a forced sacrifice.
He gave his life to mark the end to eternal death and open the way for the salvation of man.
It is finished also signifies that the chaos and troubles of this world have come to an end because Christ has paid the ultimate sacrifice, he gave us all a purpose of living, a new life and a chance at redemption in that when we were yet sinners Christ endured series of pains , tortures and troubles just to give us eternal life and save us from eternal condemnation.