Please turn to the gospel of John ch19 vs 23-37. Particularly vs30.
There are 7 cries from the cross, the sixth cry is the cry of victory. From the cries of the victim comes the cry of the victor “IT IS FINISHED”.
The first time finished is used is in the Old Testament and is at the end of the 6th day of creation (Gen 2:1), when the heaven and earth were finished and all the host of them. The 6th cry from the cross was the shout FINISHED. Note to that God pronounced his creation on the first 5 days that it was good but on the 6th day it was very good. The natural creation was very good and finished. Jesus accomplished the goal of his incarnation that it was very good and finished.The price for the sinner had been paid, the atonement had been made and therefore it was FINISHED. What was to come was the fruits of His sacrifice.
In the Greek manuscript ‘it is finished’ is one word TETELESTAI , FINISHED, and all is said in that one word it IS finished past present and future.
What was finished we can ask ourselves? There are several things for us to consider.
A). Our Lord meant that His great work of redemption was FINISHED.
He had as Daniel foretold ‘finished the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness’ (Dan 9:24). Since the day he was born in Bethlehem he had done all, paid all, performed all, suffered all that was needful to save sinners and satisfy the justice of God. He had fought the battle and won it. And in 3 days would give proof of it by rising from the dead.
B). Our Lord meant that God’s determinate council and forewill concerning His suffering was now accomplished and FINISHED.
All that had been appointed from all eternity that He should suffer, He had now suffered.
C). Our Lord meant that He had FINISHED the work of keeping God’s Holy law.
He had kept it to the uttermost as our head and representative and Satan had found nothing in Him.
D). Our Lord meant that He had FINISHED the types and figures of the ceremonial law.
He had offered up the perfect sacrifice which every mosaic sacrifice was a type and symbol and there remained no more need of an offering for sin. The old covenant was FINISHED, there was now the new covenant.
E). Our Lord meant that He had fulfilled and finished those prophecies in the old testament concerning Himself and His substitutionary death.
The seed of the woman had bruised the serpent’s head and accomplished the work which Messiah by covenant was to do.
F). Our Lord meant that His sufferings were FINISHED.
He had finished His course, His life of pain, suffering, rejection, hate and contradiction by sinners was over. The cup of suffering was at last drained dry.
FINISHED is a full word, nothing was left wanting. The costly ransom was given, sins wages had been paid. Divine justice had been satisfied. Amen.
You may be thinking what about His death, the committal of His Spirit into the hands of the Father and the resurrection and the ascension and intercession on high. These my friends are the fruit and reward of that work which He completed, Which He FINISHED.
So praise God it is FINISHED.
Have a happy Easter because of Him.
Michael Whitehouse