IT IS FINISHED
“It is finished,” were the last words from the lips of Jesus as He hung on the Cross. On the surface it sounds like, “At last, it’s over.” But, the true sense of the cry declares, “My purpose is accomplished!”
The two criminals also being crucified at the same time, the bored soldiers loitering around the execution site, and the crowds who swung by to see the spectacle, had no idea that anything of importance had been accomplished.
It looked very much like another dead Jew on a Roman cross. Nothing to write home about. But God was at work preparing for a new era, unlike anything the world had seen before. The resurrection of Jesus Christ began a new era when all people can meet God, one-on-one!
It doesn’t matter if this Easter feels spectacular or fairly uninspiring, be assured that every moment you give thought to Jesus Christ, every time you honour Him and seek Him, every day you turn your heart again towards Him, He is accomplishing His purpose in you.
You are the reason He became a man, suffered and died on a cross. He loves you that much, even if it doesn’t feel that way to you.
Perhaps the greatest words in history, “It is finished,” were spoken by Jesus Christ as He was dying on the cross. What He finished enables you to have the opportunity to know God and His mercy, forgiveness and love. Forever.
This Easter, I invite you to explore what Jesus finished and how it can be the start of something that will change your life forever.
Reverend Mark Wilson, National Ministries Director
Australian Baptist Ministries
THREE POWERFUL WORDS
Three powerful days in the history of humankind. Three powerful words spoken that impacts every individual. That is what defines the significance of Easter for us all.
Consider the innocent Son of God, hanging on a cruel Roman Cross, who uttered these three words as He took His final breath:
’It is finished’ (John 19:30)
Thankfully, He did not say, as some supposed, ‘I am finished’, but ‘it is finished’.
What did Jesus mean by those words? Quite simply, He terminated the requirement that human endeavours enable us to enter into a relationship with God. That was over. All our efforts to be acceptable to God are in vain. The act of Divine love that put Jesus Christ on that cross is enough. All we need to do is accept that, by faith, that Jesus paid the price for our eternal life, once and for all.
Three words on Good Friday gave us eternal life; and on the third day, three more words gave us the reason for our hope in Him. They are, ‘He is risen’ (Matthew 28:6).
Through His death, He gave us life, and through His resurrection, He gave us hope. At a time when life seems filled with stress, uncertainty and anxiety, we have peace that comes from a confidence that we are accepted, forgiven and loved by God. This brings a rich hope for each and every day – for one reason alone: Jesus.
May these three words bring you closer to our living and loving God this Easter.
Pastor Wayne Alcorn, ACC National President
Australian Christian Churches- ACC
