This Greek word was the last that Jesus spoke before He died on the cross. Translated into English this word means “It is finished”. Meaning, it is completed, perfected, accomplished, finished. It was also used in ancient times on receipts to mean that something is paid in full.
As I think about this word and try and wrap my feeble mind around the reality of what this word means and the fullness of it, and the context in which it was used, man alive am I overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in the best way possible, completely enraptured by the reality that through Christ, separation from the Father is finished. The moment that Jesus spoke that word and died, all that He came on this earth to do was accomplished. He became our payment in full.
Without Jesus we would be slaves to sin and have absolutely no hope, because apart from Him we are out on our own, trying to win our way into heaven in the worst way possible, through our own strength. As the bible says “the payment of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). But as He spoke that word and became our replacement and payment, all power that sin has over us is finished, “But God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). Yes, we fail at times and revert back to the old testament way of earning our way into heaven and yes at times sin has such a hold on us it feels hopeless to fight it.
But the good news is, when Jesus spoke the word “Tetelestai” and His perfect sacrifice was complete, He bought your way into heaven. He broke the chains of sin that you were enslaved to. He created a way so that you can commune and have a relationship with the Father.
When something is finished it means that you cannot add nor take away anything from it, it is finished. You cannot add or take away from Jesus’ sacrifice; meaning it is Jesus plus NOTHING that gets you into heaven, Jesus minus NOTHING that gets you into heaven.
Works get you nowhere in the realm of salvation. Good works are an important way to show gratitude and love towards Christ and are so necessary in your Christian walk, but they do not save you. It’s only Jesus, plus or minus nothing.
I want to love on people and serve and help them, because that’s exactly what Christ did for me. I come nowhere close to being the loving, helpful servant that Christ is, but I can give everything I have to be an example of His love for others in how I love and help and serve others and point them to the One that does those so perfectly. This is my heart.
“I love because He first loved me.” 1 John 4:19
