“It is finished.”
In that phrase there are at least three axioms.
- Before His crucifixion, there was something unfinished that had to be done.
- By dying, He was accomplishing something that could not be accomplished any other way.
- By His death, He accomplished that task.
Several times during his earthly ministry, Jesus remarked that there was something He needed to do.
- “I must be about My Father’s business.”
- “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
- “I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem”
- “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
- “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming, when no one can work.”
- “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there will be one flock, and one shepherd.”
Jesus came to do the Father’s will and He finished completely what He came to do. What keeps us from accomplishing the things we need to accomplish?
Few men in Southern Baptist life are as recognized for their scholarly contributions as that of A.T. Robertson. His Word Pictures in the Greek New Testament are a standard in many personal libraries. Dr. Robertson decided that he would translate the New Testament. When completed it would be known as The Robertson Translation of the New Testament. In that massive endeavor, he had arrived at Matthew chapter 8. He left his study to go teach a class, he never returned to that study. When they went to his study to carry out a very difficult task, they found his lexicon, his books of cognate languages, all of his papers, and all of his reference books scattered across his desk, just as he left them. There also lay Dr. Robertson’s hand written notes on the translation of the Bible that he never finished.
The same things that prevent us from accomplishing tasks were hurdles Jesus encountered (He saw in others) during His ministry. How many of these things have we experienced personally?
- People
- Darkness
- Money or possessions
- Expectations of other people
- Laziness or slothfulness
- Jumbled priorities
- Fear of failure
- Sin
- Hypocrisy
- The desire to jump ahead
Jesus was able to say “It is finished.” meaning – the purchase price for our salvation was paid in full.
- The prophecies were fulfilled
- The law was fulfilled
- His suffering was complete
- The goal of His life was reached
- Satan was defeated
- Our sin was dealt with; our salvation was purchased
- His sacrificial work was completed
What do we need to finish? Maybe something in life, but the purchase price for our salvation has been paid in full. “It is finished!”