6-6-2023

Good Morning All,

       John 19:30; “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

    “It is finished!”  Have you ever used this phrase?  How did you use it?  Was it from exasperation and frustration?  Sometimes this is the way a despondent couple responds as they watch their marriage crumble, or a parent when the problem child has to be bailed out of jail for the fourth time.  We feel the weight of the world crushing in on us.  We see no answer; we see no hope so we just throw up our hands and walk away.  We are beaten, battered, bloodied, and defeated by all that we face.

    Perhaps you exclaimed this as a big project has been completed.  You feel the exhilaration of getting it done.  It is over; I can enjoy the fruits of my labor.  All the work is done and it is all downhill from here; I can coast to the end.  I’ve felt this each time I finish a class.  The load of the class is lifted and I can breathe easier, for a couple of weeks anyway.  Maybe you feel that when the harvest is done, or when the graduation ceremony is done and the guests have all gone home.

     Most people would probably evenly divide into these two camps when they look at the words of Jesus, “It is finished!”  Some see it as Jesus the man finally being broken and just giving up on life.  It is finished; I am broken, beaten, defeated.  At least that is how the devil wants you to see it.  “Jesus died, get over it” The world and the devil will scoff at us and continually try to cast doubt into our lives.

      Others will see this as the victory whoop of Jesus.  It is finally over; I am out of here.  This job is done, never to worry about it again.  The same response a graduate might have, “school’s out no more books no more teacher’s dirty looks.” Yet this isn’t quite right either.  We are missing the important part of this phrase.

    It is finished.  It is complete, concluded, paid off.  This is a better way to hear this.  It is paid off.  The debt of sin which we owe is concluded; it has been paid off!  What a wondrous gift!  What a phrase to hear; imagine going into your lender to try and figure out a way to pay off a debt that you can’t pay only to hear him say,” It has been paid off!”  How would you react?  How would you feel?  We would probably jump for joy and hug whoever was standing there.  It is finished; your debt is gone.  It is finished; we no longer have to fear God’s wrath and punishment.  It is finished; we can come before the throne of grace and receive the blessings which God has for us.  It is finished; we can come to the Altar and be fed and nourished by his precious body and blood.  It is finished; thanks be to God!!

Dearest Father, in your wondrous mercy our debt of sin is paid.  We give you thanks and honor and praise for this amazing gift.  Keep us in your precious arms and hold us tight to you.  Guard us and protect us from the devil’s darts.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret