WHAT DID JESUS FINISH?

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“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30 NKJV)

 

The suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross were not accidental; instead, it was premeditated or foreordained by God (Rev. 13:8).

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he proclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJV).

Jesus’ death on the cross was the hidden wisdom of God ordained before the ages to restore the fallen man to glory, “which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Cor. 2:8 NKJV). Hallelujah!

Before the Lord Jesus yielded up His spirit on the cross, He boldly and loudly declared, “IT IS FINISHED!” John writes, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30 NKJV).

Jesus’ last words on the cross have profound spiritual meanings and implications!

What did Jesus finish?

It is wisdom to find out!

First, by His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus has perfectly finished, fulfilled, or accomplished God’s eternal plan and promise of reconciliation and redemption.

God’s plan to reconcile the sinful and estranged men to Himself and to restore the fallen men to glory demanded or necessitated the offering of a perfect sacrifice as a propitiation or atonement for the sins of the whole world so that the demand of God’s justice to punish sinners might be fully satisfied (Rom. 6:23).

The righteousness and justice of God to punish us for our sins were perfectly, entirely, and eternally satisfied by Jesus’ death on the cross (1 John 2:4).

Consequently, the hostility or enmity between God and man has been abolished. The sinful men now have peace with the holy God through the death of Jesus (Rom. 5:1-11). That is why the temple’s veil was torn from top to bottom after Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished!”

Our sins can no longer keep us away from God. Christ has opened for us the way to enter with boldness the Holiest, the presence of the holy God.

Paul writes, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13 NKJV).

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” (Heb. 10:19-20 NKJV).

Salvation is now available to all humankind as a gracious gift from God. All it takes to receive the gift of everlasting life is faith in Jesus Christ, the Mediator between the holy God and sinful men (1 Tim. 2:5).

Second, by offering Himself as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, the Lord Jesus has finished, fulfilled, or brought to consummation the sacrificial system of worship of the Old Covenant.

Christ’s death on the cross implies a total completion and abolition of all the Jewish sacrifices, laws, and rituals. Christ’s death on the cross was a perfect antitype of all the various sacrifices offered by the Jews under the Old Covenant.

The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was the perfect and ultimate propitiation or atonement for the whole world’s sins. All the burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins under the Old Covenant were mere types and shadows pointing toward Christ’s ultimate sacrifice of Himself for our sins on the cross.

In those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. Why?

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Heb. 10:3-4 NKJV).

Therefore, the priests had to stand ministering daily, repeatedly offering the same sacrifices that could never take away sins. But Jesus Christ, by one offering, has wholly purified and perfected us forever (Heb. 10:11-14). Hallelujah!

Consequently, God expects and receives no more sacrifices or offerings for sins. Therefore, it is foolishness and rebellion against God for anyone to seek to appease God with animal or human sacrifices. There is no need for any more sacrifices for sins!

Jesus said, “It is finished!”

Forgiveness of sins is now available to all men through the blood of Christ. All it takes to receive forgiveness is faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:7 NKJV). Hallelujah!

Third, through His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has completely broken, overthrown, and abolished Sin and Satan’s dominion over humankind.

Sin has been judged and condemned in the flesh of Jesus Christ. Therefore, sin no longer has any right or power to rule, dominate, and control anyone in Christ (Rom. 6:14, 8:3-4).

Likewise, by His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus has destroyed all the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). All sicknesses, diseases, or infirmities were judged in the body of Christ on the cross.

Peter testifies that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24 NKJV).

Matthew also testifies, “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matt. 8:17 NKJV).

Every curse of the law on humankind for breaking God’s law was abolished through Christ’s death on the cross.

Paul affirms, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”). (Gal. 3:13 NKJV).

Christ’s death on the cross has unleashed God’s blessings on humankind. Hallelujah!

As a born-again believer in Christ, the devil’s legal right, ground, or license to harass, oppress, possess, torment, or afflict you has been perfectly and permanently revoked or annulled by Christ’s death on the cross (Heb. 2:14-15).

Therefore, the devil will flee when you resist him, for he has no more power or dominion over you. Thus, the Scripture admonishes, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Jam. 4:7 NKJV). Hallelujah!

Moreover, the power of death over your life has been shattered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. You are free from the bondage of fear of death!

As a born-again believer, you have no cause to be afraid of death because the Lord Jesus has defeated death for you through His death and triumphant resurrection from the dead.

Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Rev. 1:18 NKJV).

That is the reason why when Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’ and yielded His spirit, “the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” (Matt. 27:51-52). Hallelujah!

Beloved, when Jesus said, “It is finished!” He says that He has “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Col. 2:14-15 NKJV).

All the wages, verdicts, or judgments stipulated by the law against you for breaking God’s law have been wiped out by the blood of Christ shed for your sins on the cross.

The devil has nothing He can use against you anymore! Hallelujah!

 Prayer:

Today, I declare that the reign and dominion of Sin, Sickness, and Satan are ended over my life and family through Christ’s death on the cross. I refuse to permit them to reign any longer over my life and family, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

Our mandate is to keep the faith of the Apostolic Generation or community.

Ewpower by El- Bethel Christian Network ministry.

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