It Is Finished!

Read John 19:28-30.

Just before He breathed His last, our Lord proclaimed, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In our English Bibles, that’s three words, but in the original Greek, it’s one beautiful word: Tetelestai. Why do I say it’s beautiful? It has to do with grammar and syntax. You see, tetelestai is a perfect passive verb, which means the action of the verb has been accomplished and yet its effects continue on and on.

On the cross, Christ finished His work—He completed His earthly mission—and yet the effects of His perfect sacrifice on our behalf will continue until He comes again. Jesus’ death on the cross will continue to bless millions upon millions of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation as they confess with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts God raised Him from the dead (see Romans 10:9).

Jesus is the sole path of salvation for everyone on the face of the earth. His finished work alone atones for sin—and it’s always been that way. Even before Jesus came, the saints of the Old Testament were saved by trusting in what God would one day do for them in Christ.

Abraham, by faith, longed for the day when Jesus would say, “Tetelestai.” Moses prophesied about the day when that word would be uttered. David sang songs looking forward to that day, and the prophets proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, the one who would crush the head of the serpent (see Genesis 3:15). Through Christ, there is now nothing to separate us from God the Father—we have been made righteous by the blood of His Son.

Tetelestai. The entire Gospel can be summed up with that one word because Jesus did everything necessary for our salvation when He died upon that cross. He secured our forgiveness and our place in the family of God forever. And now our glorious privilege is to proclaim this Good News. Christ’s work on the cross was sufficient for you, me, and anyone who comes to Him in repentance. The world needs to know It is finished.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You that it is finished! By Your incredible grace, You have redeemed me from the grave. May I lovingly and boldly share Your Good News with those You put in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.