It Is Finished

John 19:30

30.) "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (NIV)

When we reflect on people's last words spoken before they die, we recognize the power and impact they leave on us. Whether it's an "I love you", or "Take care of so and so", these words are something we carry with us forever. This is the impact Jesus' last words needed to have on generations and generations to come. They needed to be unforgettable and memorable for everyone.

"It is finished."

Jesus was converted into the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. If it weren't for His death, we wouldn't have obtained forgiveness or the opportunity to spend eternal life in heaven. He came down to this Earth to finish it, to complete the payment that needed to be made. To prove that the prophecy had come true. He came to pay all of our debt and all of our sins. Till this very day, Jesus continues to pay for us. We have been bought by His precious blood, we've been redeemed. Jesus Christ came to save, rescue, give life and freedom to all of humanity. There was no price too high for Jesus to pay. He believed we were absolutely worth it. His love for us surpasses every price, every sin, everything.

These last words to us as Christians mean Jesus has overcome. It means He's obtained the victory therefore making us victorious as well. It means we've been freed from the chains of the enemy. It means there is nothing we can possibly do, outside of our relationship with God, to make the Father love us even more.

When I first heard the words "It is finished", it was through a movie that portrayed Jesus and His life. When the words came out, the guy playing Jesus made it sound like it was difficult to speak, difficult to breathe. We need to remember Jesus truly was in pain, He felt all of the whip lashes, all of the beatings, the piercings through his hands and feet, as well as, He was having a hard time breathing due to Him suffocating on His blood. Maybe Jesus had used the last bit of strength in Him to speak these words, but as soon as these words came out, they weren't just words. They were a shout of victory because He had completed His purpose on this earth; a task that needed to be done in our name. Something we, nor any human could've ever accomplished; only Jesus could. Jesus wasn't finished. Jesus came to finish it.

Conclusion

There is way more to this story such as, the resurrection and when Jesus went to go see the disciples, but as I got ready to prepare this reflection, I felt in my heart the desire to focus solely on the words spoken by our Savior. These words have forever marked me and when I hear them or read them, I think of the moment Jesus spoke them as if He were referring to me specifically. I pray that we always carry these words with us everywhere we go. May we never ever forget the beautiful sacrifice made on the cross and may we always value it.

---