"It is finished!"
by Pastor Ron
Jesus knew that everything was now finished... he said, "It is
finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
John 19:28-30
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last, and
the curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had
died, he exclaimed, "Truly, this man was the Son of God."
Mark 15:37-39
Have you ever watched an amazing game of football, hockey or basketball
and your favorite team (fill in the blank here____________) was down by a
goal in the last seconds of play only to come back and score a touchdown or
goal and win the game? The crowd goes wild! You go nuts! You can't
believe what just happened. All you know is that you're glad that you were
there to experience it live.
This scenerio can only begin to help us understand what happened to those
who stood at the foot of the cross the day Jesus was crucified. Here was
Jesus, the rabbi who had been heralded by the crowds as the Christ, the
Messiah, condemned to death, beaten, stripped naked, losing all sense of
humanity and nailed on a cross to die. He was mocked by the soldiers,
jeered by the crowds, even taunted by one of the other convicts who hung on
the cross next to him. Jesus was in utter despair and cried out "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" All seemed lost. Jesus was finished. His
life, it seemed, would end and mean nothing.
Then it happened. Just as the crowds thought that he would wimper into
defeat and death, Mark's gospel notes that he cried out with a loud voice. It
wasn't a cry of despair or defeat. It was a cry of victory. John records that
the cry was "It is finished." Then Jesus crossed the finish line and died.
It startled the Roman soldier standing guard. Losers don't die with a victory
cry. Only winners do. How could this death mean victory? And yet, here in
death, Jesus proclaims that he has finished his life mission. What was that?
To save you, me, and the world from our sins so that nothing might ever
seperate us from the love of God our Father ever again.
The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-14 that "When you were dead in
your sins...God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...that
was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the
cross."
This is the victory that Jesus proclaims and the the Roman soldier
experienced at the foot of the cross. This death means something. It means
everything for you and me. It means life. Here in this cry from the cross our
sins are stamped out. We are forgiven. New life has begun! And little did
those standing at the feet of Jesus realize, even death would not conquer it.
In three days, Jesus would rise again. It's no wonder that the soldier
proclaimed, "Truly, this man was the Son of God." He got it. He didn't
understand it completely, but he got it. What about you?
As we enter Holy Week and move towards Easter, know one thing for certain,
we follow and worship a living Savior who in his death gave you and me life
and victory today and forever more. You can have a living faith because you
have a living and victorious Lord.
Spend some time today and each day this week just giving Jesus worship and
praise for the victory that he has won for you and me. It's OK to go nuts and
celebrate! This is one "win" that means everything. Amen.
finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
John 19:28-30
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last, and
the curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had
died, he exclaimed, "Truly, this man was the Son of God."
Mark 15:37-39
Have you ever watched an amazing game of football, hockey or basketball
and your favorite team (fill in the blank here____________) was down by a
goal in the last seconds of play only to come back and score a touchdown or
goal and win the game? The crowd goes wild! You go nuts! You can't
believe what just happened. All you know is that you're glad that you were
there to experience it live.
This scenerio can only begin to help us understand what happened to those
who stood at the foot of the cross the day Jesus was crucified. Here was
Jesus, the rabbi who had been heralded by the crowds as the Christ, the
Messiah, condemned to death, beaten, stripped naked, losing all sense of
humanity and nailed on a cross to die. He was mocked by the soldiers,
jeered by the crowds, even taunted by one of the other convicts who hung on
the cross next to him. Jesus was in utter despair and cried out "My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?" All seemed lost. Jesus was finished. His
life, it seemed, would end and mean nothing.
Then it happened. Just as the crowds thought that he would wimper into
defeat and death, Mark's gospel notes that he cried out with a loud voice. It
wasn't a cry of despair or defeat. It was a cry of victory. John records that
the cry was "It is finished." Then Jesus crossed the finish line and died.
It startled the Roman soldier standing guard. Losers don't die with a victory
cry. Only winners do. How could this death mean victory? And yet, here in
death, Jesus proclaims that he has finished his life mission. What was that?
To save you, me, and the world from our sins so that nothing might ever
seperate us from the love of God our Father ever again.
The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-14 that "When you were dead in
your sins...God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...that
was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away nailing it to the
cross."
This is the victory that Jesus proclaims and the the Roman soldier
experienced at the foot of the cross. This death means something. It means
everything for you and me. It means life. Here in this cry from the cross our
sins are stamped out. We are forgiven. New life has begun! And little did
those standing at the feet of Jesus realize, even death would not conquer it.
In three days, Jesus would rise again. It's no wonder that the soldier
proclaimed, "Truly, this man was the Son of God." He got it. He didn't
understand it completely, but he got it. What about you?
As we enter Holy Week and move towards Easter, know one thing for certain,
we follow and worship a living Savior who in his death gave you and me life
and victory today and forever more. You can have a living faith because you
have a living and victorious Lord.
Spend some time today and each day this week just giving Jesus worship and
praise for the victory that he has won for you and me. It's OK to go nuts and
celebrate! This is one "win" that means everything. Amen.
A meditation for Sixth Sunday of Lent - Palm Sunday
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