Jesus’ last words in the book of John are perhaps the most famous of the last words of Christ: “It is finished.” What was finished? What did Jesus come to earth to accomplish?
I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:38—40)
And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” (John 9:39)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28)
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:1-5)
Jesus entered fully into the human experience.
He demonstrated the Father’s heart to an oppressed people, subjugated to a foreign government, and dying at the hands of the religious elite and the empire itself.
He fully accomplished His Father’s will, drinking even the cup of suffering and death.
He proved Himself the prophesied Messiah king, establishing the Kingdom of God, crowned on the Cross: King of the Jews.
He died, bringing abundant and eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
He glorified His Father.
It is finished.
“It is finished” are perhaps the most familiar and frequently preached about of Christ’s last words. We know that the work of Jesus was fully completed on the cross. And yet we so often tend toward living a Jesus and… life. “Jesus gave me abundant and eternal life, and also I have to….” Are there things we need to do in addition to what Jesus did on the cross? Why or why not?
Lord Jesus, we hear your words, “It is finished.” We believe you entered fully and completely into our human experience—Emmanuel, God with us—and you fully and completely accomplished the Father’s will. Help me to sit in the silence of your “It is finished.”
Every day between now and Good Friday, come back here to find a devotional on one of the last statements of Jesus from the cross, as well as an invitation to slow down and meet Jesus at the foot of the cross.
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Renee Davis Meyer 