Because It Is Finished…

On the cross, Jesus uttered seven things:

1. ”Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
Fulfills Isa 53:12  …[He] made intercession for the transgressors.
2. ”Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Fulfills the prophecy given to Joseph – “thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
3. ”Woman, behold thy Son.” (John 19:26)
Fulfills the prophecy of Simeon – “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also” (Luke 2:35).
4. ”My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat 27:46, Mark 15:34)
Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1.
5. ”I thirst.” (John 19:28)
Fulfills Psalm 69:21 – “In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.
6. ”It is Finished.” (John 19:30).
Psalm 22 ends with,  “He hath done” (vs 31).  It could also be rendered, “He hath finished.” The context refers to what has been done/finished — the work of atonement.
7. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
The same words David prayed:  Into thine hand, I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Ps 31:5)

“It is Finished”

The sixth thing Jesus proclaimed on the cross was, “It is finished.”  Jesus had finished the work that His Father sent Him to do, and He had glorified His Father (John 17:4)  Because “It is finished,” Jesus’ eye is upon you and His arm is around you.  Oh, what amazing grace and abounding love!

The day will come when Jesus ushers in Eternity, and proclaims, “It is done!” (Rev 21:6)  Until then, we live in hope, knowing that Jesus is present with us and…

Because It is Finished

Tullian Tchividjian recently wrote, and then read, the following statements regarding the present power we experience in those three words Jesus spoke almost 2000 years ago.

BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You are free from the impossible burden of having to earn God’s love and acceptance.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…There is nothing you can ever do or fail to do that will tempt God to leave you, forsake you, or stop loving you.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You cannot sin beyond the coverage of God’s forgiveness.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…The sins you can’t forget, God doesn’t remember.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You are NOT defined by your worst moments or your greatest accomplishments; your struggles or your successes; your strengths or your weaknesses. You ARE defined by who you belong to.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You can talk truthfully about the worst parts of you, without being afraid of others’ disapproval, because the only approval that ultimately matters is God’s and you already have it.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You can endure rejection from others because you will never have to endure rejection from God.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You can freely admit when you are wrong because your value is not dependent on being right, but rather on the righteousness of Jesus that covers you.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…God loves you unconditionally and that means you are free from needing everybody else to like you.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…You can love others without needing them to love you back because all of the love you need, you already have.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED… Who you ultimately are has nothing to do with you. Your identity is firmly anchored in Jesus’ performance, not yours; His record, not yours. You are NOT what you do, or don’t do. You ARE what Jesus has done for you.
BECAUSE IT IS FINISHED…We can join our voices with the song of Heaven in Revelation 5 and say, “We are not worthy, but the lamb who was slain is worthy, and by the grace of His saving death, we are what we are: beloved sons and daughters of God.”

Tullian Tchividjian is the pastor at The Sanctuary Florida in Jupiter Florida. YouTube | Facebook

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