Today’s reading is John 19.
So, let’s get this out of the way. That really cool point you heard (or preached) in a sermon once about “It is finished” meaning “Paid in full” because it was used on ancient receipts isn’t true. Stop saying it. Stop preaching it. (Click here for explanation.)
That, however, doesn’t mean “It is finished!” is not the greatest statement ever made. Jesus came into the world to accomplish the greatest work ever accomplished. In fact, back in John 17:4, Jesus declared He had glorified the Father while on earth, “having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (ESV). “Accomplished” here is a verb from the same word family as “finished” in Jesus’s statement on the cross.
In fact, look at the very context of John 19:30. Just two verses earlier, John wrote, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst'” (John 19:28, ESV). “Finished” in this verse is the same word as “finished” in vs. 30. Additionally, “fulfill” in this verse is the same as “accomplish” back in John 17:4.
Let’s not miss how important this statement is. Every step of the way, Satan tried to get Jesus to abandon the work of God. In the wilderness temptation, he tried to get Jesus to doubt His sonship and to get Him to worship the devil in order to become King instead of doing it God’s way. When the crowds tried to make Him King so He could feed them, Satan was offering Jesus a different path. From Peter’s mouth, he tried to convince Jesus the Messiah shouldn’t suffer and die. Even here on the cross, the old familiar, “Surely, You aren’t the Son of God. God wouldn’t make His Son suffer like this. Come down from the cross and prove it.” Again and again, Satan put the option to quit before Jesus.
But Jesus endured. Jesus stayed the course. He accomplished God’s work. He finished. He finished strong. Because He did, we can find salvation, healing, hope, transformation, renewal, redemption, adoption, justification, sanctification.
I love the fact that years later, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, ESV). You guessed it, that word for “finished” is the same word. Every step of the way, Satan tried to get Paul to abandon the race. But Paul endured. Paul stayed the course. Paul accomplished God’s work. He finished. He finished strong. Not because he was strong, but because His King is.
Every step of the way, Satan is trying to get you to abandon the race. I know at times it seems impossible to finish. But, by the grace and power of Jesus, we can finish. Praise the Lord!
Jesus finished well. By His power, you can too. Will you? Can we help? Let us know in the comments.
Tomorrow’s reading is John 19.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does John 19 prompt or improve your trust in God?
Read the Bible 