Read: John 19:30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 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. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Many of us have heard people say, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Cynically, when we see an offer that seems to good to be true, it usually is. Those hugely discounted Disney tickets? Just survive through a three-hour high-pressure sales pitch for a time-share! That free booklet on how to make a million dollars a week flipping houses? Yes, it’s free but only tells you to buy the program for $525! Get that procedure done for $39.99! Sure, but did we mention the taxes and fees that come along with it? That will be $139.99! What a deal!
The Gospel is one time the message is too good, but it’s also completely true! There is nothing hidden. No extra costs down the road. Confess you are completely unable to save yourself; admit your sinfulness and your need for Jesus; give him your life and put your trust in him, and you will be saved. Give up your life for Jesus and he will give you back a life that is eternal, filled with purpose and the Holy Spirit!
In today’s passage, Jesus has said he is thirsty. After he is given sour wine to drink, Jesus declares, “It is finished,” the sixth word from the cross. Jesus had obeyed the will of the Father perfectly. He had finished every task God had given him to do. From the moment of his birth until this moment on the cross, Jesus had obeyed the Father’s will perfectly. He had brought glory to God by accomplishing the work the Father had given him to do (John 17:4). It is finished.
There is a difference between completing a task and accomplishing it. When we complete something, we finish it. We’ve done all that is required. Perhaps we completed it correctly, but perhaps not. The point is all the boxes have been checked and there is nothing left to do. Accomplishment has the sense of finishing successfully. The task has been completed, but more than that, its purpose was accomplished.
Jesus’ purpose in the incarnation was to do the will of the Father. He was to live a sinless life despite experiencing all the temptations we go through (Hebrews 4:15). He kept the Law perfectly. And though he had done no wrong, he went to the cross in our place, taking our sin upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah 53:5 looked forward to the Messiah dying in our place, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Jesus paid it all. The debt we owed because of our sin, Jesus took upon himself. Paul wrote in Romans 3:23-24, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” And in Romans 6:23 he wrote, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Many people live feeling that they need to either earn their salvation or they need to somehow pay God back for what he has done. Their lives are spent trying to justify the price Jesus paid on their behalf. They hope they’ve done enough. They hope God will see all their efforts and bless them.
We can never, ever do enough for God. We have to confess our sin. We have to accept Christ’s death as our payment. We need to trust in him completely and obey what he says – not to earn anything, but because faith moves into action. Our obedience does not save us. Our obedience does not gain us points with God we can cash in for answered prayer. Our obedience is simply the evidence that we really believe what we claim to believe. If we trust in Christ, we will do what he says.
As we saw in Matthew 7, many will come to Jesus on that day and say, “Lord, Lord! Look at my accomplishments!” but they did not do God’s will to surrender their lives to Jesus and he will say, “I never knew you.” Others will come to Jesus on that day and say, “Lord, Lord! Have mercy on me a sinner.” Those who humbled themselves and surrendered to Jesus will hear him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter your rest.”
Where do you find it hard to surrender to Jesus? Have you trusted completely in his finished work on the cross or do you still feel compelled to do something to earn it?
When you face difficult times in your life, what does it do to your faith? It is natural to have doubts and questions, but do you find yourself fearful, ready to give up, sure that God is out to get you? Your reaction may help you to see if there are areas you still need to surrender to Jesus.
It is finished. Jesus has accomplished all that must be done so we might be restored to the relationship God always intended for us. Let us surrender and trust him completely every day!