Declaration of the Finisher

6th of the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross

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

"It is finished"

In Greek, "Tetelestai," which means, "It is done", "It has been paid in full." It does not only mean His suffering is done. His shout, "Tetelestai" is a shout of victory.

Mission has been accomplished.

All prophecies about the Messiah have been fulfilled in and by Jesus. Therefore, there is nothing left for us to do, but receive His free gift.

There is nothing else we can do to add up to what He has accomplished. Everything has been taken cared of 

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. John 17:4 NIV

No more unfinished business.

Connection has been restored.

The redemption of man from sin was made possible by Jesus's complete work on the cross. He took care of the reconnection of man to the God the Father

He paid the wages of sin. Our ransom has been paid. He suffered on our behalf.

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 NIV

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Romans 6:10 NIV

All that is left to do is repent from our sins and believe in Him.

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Enemy has been defeated.

This means death has been defeated.

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NIV

Just when the enemy thought he won by Jesus's death, Christ proved His divinity by still accomplishing His mission between His death and His resurrection.

Conclusion:

Jesus knows how to finish well. He completed His mission, making sure all has been taken cared of.

"It is finished!" is a declaration that Jesus is victorious!

Let us celebrate Jesus because He has done all that is required for our salvation. All that is left for us is to receive it.

Fluid for the Living Water

 5th of the Seven Last Words of Jesus

²⁸Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. John 19:28-29 NIV

It is interesting that when the nails pierced through the hands and feet of Jesus, He did not say a thing about its pain.

When a crown of thorns was put on His head, He did not say a word. 

When they divided His clothes, He did not yell, "Hey, those are mine!"

Yet, when He felt thirst, He said, "I am thirsty."

None of what Jesus went through were painful enough to make Him say a word.

The one physical need He wanted eased up was thirst.

Here are some truths and lessons we can learn from the 5th of the Last Seven Word of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Jesus felt real thirst.

Jesus got thirsty even before the crucifixion.

⁵So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. ⁷When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” John 4:5-7 NIV

So, after a long, painful journey, it's understandable He's thirsty. Physically, it's possible.

More importantly, it was it was prophesied.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Psalm 22:15 NIV

Jesus revered God's Word.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17 NIV

²⁸Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28 NIV

He did not skip one step. He went through it all to complete His mission to save.

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 NIV

Servants in God's vineyard must revere God's Word, just as Jesus did.

Jesus modeled faithful service.

Dying on the cross was part of God's plan of redemption.

Feeling thirsty was part of Him dying on the cross.

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are powerful prophecies about the Messiah.

To be clear, Jesus's suffering on the cross is about Jesus completing His mission.

It has always been and will always be about Jesus saving us. He is the center of the story, not us.

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 NIV

Yet we can still learn from Him about faithful service while hanging on the cross.

Ministry will cause inconvenience.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 NIV

Ministry will require sacrifice.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:24 NIV

Ministry will demand faithfulness.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" Matthew 25:21 NIV

God's ministry here on Earth will only be victorius if it is done FOR God.

Conclusion:

Ministry is never convenient. It always involves sacrifice.

As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and the story of the cross about Him, it is possible to go through serving Him victoriously!

Forsaken for Our Sake

 4th of the Seven Last Words of Jesus

When I was still teaching in high school, the elementary department have this program where each grade level would perform, usually a dance number for grades 1-3. While students perform, they only face one of two directions - towards the teacher who taught them the steps or towards where their parents are seated.

For students who just want to perform because they want their parents to see them dance, and neither the father nor the mother is there to watch them, it's a disaster. Once they step on the stage, their eyes would look for their mom and dad. If they are not there, they just start crying.

It is sad to not be seen by the one person whose attention you desire. Jesus Christ experienced such while hanging on the cross. When He was up there, something strange happened.

⁴⁵From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46 NIV

On the hours when the sun was supposed to be at its peak, there was darkness. Bible scholars agree that it was the time when God the Father turned His back on His only begotten Son.

It was also a direct quote from Psalm 22:1 when David wrote of a time of great suffering and abandonment.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1 NIV

How can this be?

Jesus asking, "Why have You forsaken me?" to the God who said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5).

In addition, David once declared this truth:

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Psalm 37:25 NIV

The question remains. Why was Jesus forsaken?

2 Corinthians 5:21 explains a lot.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

He was forsaken for our sake.

It had to happen so that the righteousness that God required might be imputed unto us through Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus Christ was forsaken that we might be accepted. What a Savior we have!