“It Is Finished”

John 19: 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I began a quest to lose weight, restore a fitness regime in my life. After being encouraged by my loving wife Pam to join her in a similar effort I have enjoyed some moderate success. Pounds have been lost and after 30 years, I am running. The treadmill is no longer my enemy, rather we have established a friendship or sorts. Running, or even walking, is a good way to relieve stress in your life. But please, check with your doctor before starting any fitness program. It would be the height of foolishness to die on the treadmill trying to extend your life. Just sayin’…

If you do not want to read another devotional about being saved by grace through faith and how Jesus did it all for you and I then STOP READING RIGHT NOW! AND I MEAN IMMEDIATELY! STOP!
But if you do want to read another devotional about being saved by Jesus, then you are in the right place at the right time. The three most wonderful words in the whole Bible, at least to me anyway, are “It is finished”. The final words of Jesus tell it all. There is peace, comfort and hope in those three simple words. “It is finished” tells you, and I and all others who are wondering what else they must do to be saved. “It is finished” tells it all. We, mankind, were able to ignore the one thing God told us not to do. Adam and Eve took a bite from the fruit of the forbidden tree and you and I continue that tradition today. It is that state of sinfulness which separates us from God. We were lost and condemned to experience the sting of death. But the words “It is finished” tell all who care to learn that the reconciliation is complete. Believe that Christ dying on the cross is all it took and you will not feel the sting of death. His pain, suffering, humiliation and finally death on the cross paid the price for you and I. He was the sacrificial lamb needed to atone for our sins. It was his blood, not yours or mine that settled the debt. We are reminded of this whenever we have Holy Communion. The words of institution remind us of this each and every time. “It is finished” tells us that the mission he set out to accomplish, was in fact accomplished. For the people standing at the foot of the cross, it was also a comforting message. Those who had walked with Him could find comfort that the physical discomfort He was experiencing had ended. He suffered no more, and his spirit departed. My question to you is do you know where your spirit will go? If your answer is yes, then you truly grasp the message behind “It is finished”. If there is some question or doubt, you need to know that you are saved by grace through faith. Nothing, no matter the magnitude or frequency of your works or gifts can save you. “It is finished” is right there for you to embrace.

Prayer: Lord we have been given so many blessings. You finished all that was needed to be accomplished. Help us to remember that when we have doubts. Amen