It Is Finished!

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“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
John 19:30

It had been a long cold day with the wind blowing, and now the rain began to fall.  It was almost dark and my siding crew had been pushing to finish the last side of the house.  Up and up went the scaffold, up and up went the work. Finally, with one last piece, we were done.  Everyone sighed with relief and put the tools and equipment away.  It was good to be done!

The Lord Jesus had come to do the Father’s will.  He had set his face toward Jerusalem, the cross, and the saving of the world.  Through the arrest, the beatings, the mock trials, the mocking, and the Way of Sorrows…Jesus kept His face set toward the end goal.  Through the pain, the nailing, being forsaken, the forgiving, and the thirsting…Jesus kept His face set toward the end goal.

Then with one last breath, Jesus utters, “It is finished!” He sighs and dies.  It is so very, very good that it is done.

The Lord of heaven and earth has given up His life for the sins of the world, for your sins and mine.  Just as no job, no task, was ever so grueling, so no job was ever so important.  By His wounds we are healed.  By His blood we are cleansed.  By His pain we find rest.

On Calvary, the gory job of crucifixion is over.  However, the glory has just begun.  For the Son of Man has been lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.  It is so very, very good!

Photo and Text copyright Steve Nickodemus