Monday Moorings | 16 June 2014 - It Is Finished

I know this is a bit long. Read it when you can. I would like to hear your thoughts.

It is Finished

by Dudley Harris

Introduction

When I started Bible school at Agape Church in Cullman, AL, Pastor Mike Harrison challenged us early in the two year program with this: write a paper explaining what Jesus meant by the phrase uttered from the cross, “It is finished” and he would award us with the two year certificate.  Since that time I have pondered this challenge many times, but until now had never taken the time to do the study and write down my findings.  The following is my attempt to respond to the question.

The Question

What did Jesus mean when He stated from the cross, “It is finished!”?  Let's first of all consider the question.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (KJV)

John 19:30  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (NIV)

These were the last words uttered by Jesus before His death.  Since He was not yet dead, “finished” clearly did not include His death.  It did, however, mark the end of something that His life represented.  According to Strong's, the greek word used is teleo which has a root word tello which means “to set out for a definite point or goal; the point aimed at as a limit”.  Jesus was marking this moment, just before His death, as the completion of a goal.  Jesus had spent His entire life with this goal in mind!  This, however, was not the only goal He had, but is was a very important step in completing, totally, His purpose on Earth.

Look at some other statements made by Jesus that used this same word teleo.

Luke 12:50  But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 

“Accomplished” in this verse is the same Greek word as “finished”.  Jesus' mind was focused (straitened) on the mission.  His entire mission would include a baptism; being buried and rising again.  This included everything up to His death, but was much more than that.  Jesus is speaking of something more than He could complete.  Notice “till it be accomplished”.  This appears to speak of something beyond His ability.

Luke 18:31  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Luke 22:37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Again, “accomplished” in these verses is the same Greek word as “finished”.  These speak specifically to the completing of the prophetic words spoken about the Messiah.  Prophetic words were given regarding more than just Jesus' death.

What Was Not Finished

Before answering the question at hand we will first look at a few things that He did not mean.

Some say He completed salvation for mankind.  This cannot be true because He had not yet been raised from the dead.  Dying made Jesus like many other prophets.  Rising from the dead made Him the Son of God.  Also, Christ's ascending into heaven and being seated at the right-hand of God is as much a part of our salvation as His death on the cross.

Others say “It is finished” refers to Satan's head being crushed (Genesis 3:15).  Again, this cannot be true.  It was only after Christ “descended” (Ephesians 4:9-10) and took back the “keys of death and hell” (Revelation 1:18) that the head of Satan was crushed.  The cross was simply the “bruising of the heel” mentioned in Genesis.

Another consideration is that “finished” referred to prophecy.  All of the prophecy regarding Jesus had not yet come to pass so this cannot be what was meant by the statement.  Specifically, the prophecy regarding “no broken bones” (Psalm 34:20), and the resurrection from the dead after three days in the tomb (Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31).  There may be others, but it is outside of the scope of this study.

The establishment of the Church was the ultimate purpose of Jesus' sacrifice.  The church had not been fully established, however, because the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent.  The New Covenant was sealed by the giving of the Holy Spirit.  This occurred the first time after Jesus' death when “He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Ghost.'” (John 20:22).

Another popular belief is that Jesus was referring to the atonement when He stated, “It is finished.”  Atonement means “to be reconciled.”  Jesus' death did not completely bring mankind into right-standing with God.  Additionally, the propitiation of Jesus' blood had not yet been placed on the “true” mercy seat in heaven (Hebrews 9:11-13).  Therefore, the price had not yet been paid for sin.  The atonement for sin was not yet complete.

The last of the “nots” that will be considered is that of restored relationship.  Jesus came to be a bridge of reconciliation to bring man back to right relationship with Father.  The “middle wall of partition”, the curtain in the temple, was not yet torn apart, signifying access to the presence of God (Matthew 27:51).

In all of these things Jesus' death is a key part of the whole, but more had to be done to complete the process.

What Was Finished?

We have looked at several things “It is finished” does not mean, let's now look at a few possibilities of what it did mean.

Jesus “finished” His assignment on earth as the Son of Man.  Everything Jesus did on earth He did as the Son of Man.  If He did anything during His life based solely on His deity then He was not a “human”.  He lived a sinless life as a human, empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the direction of Father God.  He was tempted at all points, yet without sin.

Another objective completed by Jesus at the cross was to fulfill righteousness.  This was stated as an objective when He was baptized of John. (Matthew 3:15)  Jesus fulfilled the law; every jot and tittle.  He fulfilled righteousness and in doing so, His blood became the propitiation that would atone for sin.  He became the Lamb without blemish so that He could become the supreme sacrifice to atone for sin.

The phrase “It is finished” indicated Jesus had completed His assignment as Son of Man, the sacrificial Lamb of God.  There was nothing more that He could do, naturally speaking, to reconcile man back to God.  It was now up to Father God and the Holy Spirit to bring about Ephesians 1:18-21 “... that you may know what is the hope of His (Father) calling, what are the riches of the glory of His (Father) inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His (Father) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His (Father) mighty power which He (Father) worked in Christ (Jesus) when He (Father) raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him (Jesus) at His (Father) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, ...”

Conclusion

Jesus, as the Son of Man, could not directly affect His virgin birth, nor could He bring Himself back from the grave.  Between conception and death, however, He lived a sinless life, became fully aware of His God-nature, and did it all as a man in order to redeem that which was lost in the Garden when man gave away his birthright to Satan.  He finished what Adam started!

Then Jesus was put to death on the cross, took His blood to the heavenly mercy seat, made atonement for sin, “descended” to get the keys of death and hell, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, was seated at Father's right hand, and finally sent the Holy Spirit so you and I could be reconciled to God.  That's when all of the plan of redemption was FINISHED.

Take-aways

Since this is Monday Moorings, the message here is intended to give us something we can use to anchor our life, something that will keep us from drifting. It begins by coming to the same place that Jesus did. Confess to the Father, “It is finished. My effort to accomplish Your purpose in my life is now yielded to You. Do what you desire.”