It Is Finished! (John 19:28-30)

Today's scripture: John 19:28-30

"It is finished!" These are the last words of Jesus as He hung on the cross. Three simple words with so much meaning.

It is finished ... Jesus certainly meant that His earthly life was finished. He did die. His heart did stop beating. He did take His last breath.

But His words meant more than just the completion of His on-earth ministry. "It is finished" means the end to the enemy's control. "It is finished" means the end of sin's hold on us. "It is finished" means the end of ritual sacrifice. "It is finished" means the end to mankind's being separated from God.

"It is finished" also means the beginning of new life in Christ for those who choose to follow Him. When Jesus died, He paid the ultimate price for our redemption. He was the final perfect sacrifice. We can come directly to God's throne because of these words.

These words speak triumph, and we should rejoice when we hear them. As Charles Spurgeon wrote: "The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ—'It is finished!' That is the final word in the redemption of humankind."