It Is Finished
Today’s passage: John 19:28–30, with Matthew 27:45–54, Mark 15:33–39, and Luke 23:44–48
Focus verse: Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
Together, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John combine to record seven things Jesus says on the cross as he dies.
One of them is, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” At this moment, Father God has turned his back on Jesus so his Son can complete his mission on his own. This is as it must be.
His last words are, “It is finished.” With that, Jesus drops his head and surrenders his will to live, releasing his Spirit.
Jesus is dead.
He dies in our place on the cross, serving as the ultimate sin sacrifice to end all sin sacrifices. In doing so, he fulfills what he came to do and what he told his disciples would happen—on three separate occasions.
At the time of his death, three things occur.
First, the curtain in the temple rips from top to bottom. This suggests that God starts the split from above, something no person could do while standing on the ground.
This symbolizes that through Jesus’s death all people can now enter the holy of holies and approach God directly. They no longer need a priest to serve as their intermediary.
Next, an earthquake occurs, and tombs break open. The bodies of many holy people rise to life.
We don’t know who they are or how many, only that they lived holy lives. Were they martyred for their faith? Did they live in faithful expectation of Jesus? How long had they been dead?
Third, the centurion, who sees what happens—along with the guards standing watch—says, “Surely, he was a righteous man.” What a profound testimony. And it comes from a non-Jew, a nonbeliever.
We can hope the experience forever changed the centurion, just as the death of Jesus can forever change us.
Questions:
What do you think about the things that happened when Jesus died?
Which of the details of Jesus’s death most affects you?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you died in our place for our sins to make us right with Father God and allowing us to spend eternity in heaven.
Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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