“It is finished.” — John 19:30

When did it begin? What began? This question is bound to come to anyone who is pondering on this sentence. Chapter one of the Gospel according to John gives us the entire plan.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son, the One who is at the Father’s side, He has revealed Him. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Now that it is finished, it speaks about Jesus’ finished work. He fought the good fight and finished the race, and kept the faith. Now no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. This is the finished work of Jesus.

It is not by chance that the seven sentences on the Cross were spoken. Herod, Pilate, the High Priest, asked many questions, to which Jesus spoke not one word. All were amazed at His silence. However, Jesus spoke seven times on the cross. I consider these seven sentences to be a summary of the purpose of the grand sacrifice. Jesus on the Cross passed through humiliation, stress, betrayal, physical pain, emotional pain, the test of endurance. In such a condition, a person will talk about the depth of his heart and reveal greater significance. The following is what I understood from those sentences:

Jesus took the role of a High Priest and interceded for us, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Hebrew 4:15 says, “for we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. As a High Priest who was also the sacrifice, He now has the power to forgive.

He took the place of authority and declared to the thief, “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Assurance of eternal life is awarded to those whose sins have been forgiven. Matthew 28: 18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is the greatest command.

“Woman, behold thy Son.” The relations of the earth are reset. The matters of the earth belong to the earth and need to be addressed. One cannot escape this by hiding behind the pretext that one does not belong to the earth. “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12: 17. We are to follow the laws of the land.

“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” is because of the sin that created a gap. Father was separated from Jesus for a while as the sin of the world came upon Jesus, and as written in Isaiah 54:7

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. The gap created by sin was filled in through the sacrifice.

“I thirst.” It is a call to approach Jesus so that in return you will receive the everlasting life.

“It is finished.” Is the completed work of Jesus. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ because of which, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” It was a willful surrender to the will of Father. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father John 10 17-18

Author: Dr.Ajit Onawale