As Jesus was dying on the cross and it was nearing the end, He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Certainly, this was not the cry of defeat and despair - but rather it was a cry of victory. Jesus was concluding His mission… the most difficult part of all. The price for redemption was almost paid, and it was when He exhaled for the final time.

Several things were finished, or accomplished, at His death:

1) His life of service and suffering was over - finished! There was no way we could redeem ourselves from sin. He suffered much in our behalf, not because we deserved it or even because we begged for it… but because He loves us. He had come into the world for this purpose.

2) His life of example was over - it too was finished. There are many things for us to learn from Jesus about how to live and how to die and He invites us to learn of Him (see Matthew 11:29). We see in His complete devotion to the Father what ours should be. We see unselfish good will to others and a view of sin as an enemy that must be conquered.

3) We see the prophecies concerning the Messiah fulfilled, or finished, in Him. His life fulfilled them all from the place and circumstance of His birth to His death on the cross. But the prophecies had also said He would live again… and that, too, would be fulfilled on the third day following His death.

4) Finally, redemption’s work was finished (1 Pet. 1:18,19). God’s mercy and grace has taken care of the impossible part. Now it is up to us to receive Him. Wise men still seek Him!

By Jon W. Quinn
The Front Page
From Expository Files 19.11; November 2012

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