It Is Finished         John 19:30-37

Then when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up the spirit. (John 19:30)

Often, reaching the end of a journey or process with good and clean results is not a simple task. History recorded so many people that started everything good and ended up with a tragedy or a shameful loss. A few months ago, a movie about the last 12 hours of Jesus' life was made. The movie director even reminded the actor that played as Jesus Christ that this movie may be the opening and also the closing of his career, because it is possible that the movie will be hated by the Hollywood people and the public. With no regrets and fear, this film was finally made, and it turns out that today, this spectacular movie have instead gathered many profits and is waited by many people because it really visualizes a tragedy that has never been potrayed like this before.

Jesus surely knew that His death on the Cross was not the end of a tragic loss. He knew that His sacrifices have been truly given, fully and wholly. Those three words indicated a new age of a victory that cannot be blocked away. Jesus ended the wait for salvation that has been endured by mankind, even though not many knew about this at that time, and this closing was signaled by this short sentence that was let out from His bloody lips. For the world and for the Jews, Jesus had lost and His word can be comprehended as a relief that at last his sufferings won't be for any longer. It was as if Jesus couldn't hold on with His condition. But for us, that saying reminds us to His perfect sacrifice. There is nothing more necessary for men to do to gain salvation other than in Him. And now, even more we are reminded that the news about the perfect sacrifice must be spread so that others may know that the salvation has been granted.

By the sacrifice of Christ we began our meaningful lives. Will we end it later with a proud smile and victory because we have done our part as best as God wanted us to do? Share and spread the good news to every man, that the salvation has been completed and has been finished only in Jesus Christ when He was crossed in the mount of Calvary.


••• Sunday, April 11, 2004 •••