“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,”
and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30
It is finished.
When I first read this passage of Scripture, I thought, “Yeah it’s over. The suffering is finally done and we can move on to the resurrection!”
However, to miss the gravity of this proclamation is to miss the gospel entirely.
Yesterday I sat and meditated on the goodness of the Lord on the rooftop of a building consecrated for ministry here in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our squad was taking an hour to reflect on the Lord in a time called “ahmad” which is a Hebrew word meaning “to abide.” I had my earbuds in, and I was listening to a song by one of my favorite artists. At the end of the song, I heard the words “it is finished.” My ears tuned in a little more intently…
Oh, praise the Lord a mighty warrior
Praise the Lord the glorious One
By His hand we stand in victory
By His name we’ve overcome
Oh, it is finished
All my fears, they’re finished
All my insecurities, they’re finished
Any doubt about my future, it is finished
Any thought that I can’t love myself, it’s finished
Any thought that You’re not that good, oh, it’s finished
I realized something revolutionary for me. Jesus said “it is finished.” He never said, “I am finished.” He didn’t quietly mutter a cry defeat, but he let out a shout of victory.
My shame is finished.
My doubts are finished.
My broken spirit is finished.
My mistakes and failures are finished.
My pain is finished.
My salvation is finished.
I was reminded of a message my friend Derek shared several years ago. He came to our church and preached a message about this Scripture that the Lord used to rock my world. He spoke about the Greek translation of Jesus’ last words. Some translations of the Bible keep the original word because it is so powerful.
Tetelestai.
Tetelestai is a Greek word meaning “it is finished,” of course, but it also means something more – “paid in full.” Tetelestai is a word that debtors would put on documents in Jesus’ time when the debt was forgiven. It is a word of perfect and total completion. It means that there is nothing left undone.
To the servant it means that the task is done.
To the Old Testament priest it means the sacrifice is accepted.
To the merchant it means paid in full.
To the artist it means the masterpiece is completed and perfect.
To the broken human like me it means reconciliation before a just God.
There’s even more good news, though. The story was not finished with “tetelestai.” Three days later, Jesus busted out of that grave and defeated death. He spent time on earth with His disciples and then ascended to Heaven offering His Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us.
Fast forward a couple thousand years and I find myself sitting in a little coffee shop in Nepal. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the daily filling by Him and His word, Jesus has given me the authority to live a life in reflection of the Son of God. The message we have been given is a message not exclusively for Americans or even only for the destitute. The gospel is a message of freedom and God’s grace freely given to each and every individual in the world, so that’s why I go.
I have been called to live a life of tetelestai. I want to live my life every day with this word as if this word is stamped on my forehead. Everything I say, do, and think should be in the mindset of tetelestai. Any burdens I try to carry alone? Jesus says they’re finished. Any pain I try to bury and mask? Jesus declares that pain is finished. Any sin or weight that easily entangles me? They’re finished, too!
Jesus says that the orphan’s pain is finished,
the widow’s sorrow is finished,
the prostitute’s shame is finished,
the Christian’s fear of rejection and inadequacy is finished.
Your past is finished, too.
As you read this, I challenge you to declare something in your life that is finished in the name of Jesus. It’s a powerful name and the only name by which man can be saved.
Did you declare it? Comment here and celebrate with a body of believers about the finished work of Jesus Christ. What has Jesus finished in your life?
Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
