It is finished, They were the last words of Jesus when he was crucified, but do you know what the true meaning is? or what did our Lord mean with them? Find out with us through this interesting article.
It Is Finished: The Last Words of Jesus
In the final moments before Jesus' death, the canonical gospels of the Bible record several similar events. As well as actions or words exclaimed by Jesus prior to the delivery of the Spirit of him, to which our Lord Jesus Christ would later resurrect, on the third day as a sign of victory.
It is the evangelist John, the same one who presents Jesus to the world in his gospel as the Son of God, who precisely writes what Jesus said: It is finished. Words exclaimed by Jesus in agony just before giving up his spirit.
In the previous hours and despite it being noon, a great darkness will befall the earth. This darkness will remain for three hours, until the hour of the death of an innocent, our Lord Jesus Christ:
Matthew 27:45-46 (BLPH): 45 From noon the whole land was plunged into darkness until three in the afternoon. 46 About that time Jesus yelled loudly: – Elí, Elí, lemá sabaqtani?, that is to say: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”.
This passage from the evangelist Matthew represents the agony of Jesus as a man. That being innocent and without sin, he became sin to carry all the guilt and sins of humanity to the cross.
The crucifixion of Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, the greatest obedience that can exist from a Son to his Father. Jesus was willing to spend all that disgrace as long as the perfect plan of his Heavenly Father was fulfilled, thereby reconciling God with humanity.
That is why Jesus in a last breath exclaimed: It is finished, thus God's purpose for humanity was fulfilled.
John 19:30 (NASB): Then Jesus, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is finished! and bowing his head, gave up the spirit.
The last words of Jesus in the gospels
In the canonical gospels of the biblical New Testament, all four authors describe the death of our Lord Jesus. But three of the four evangelists, such as: Matthew, Mark and Luke use similar terms or expressions, let's see the following:
Matthew 27:48-49 (NIV): Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge. He soaked it in vinegar, put it on a reed, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The others said: - Leave him, to see if Elijah comes to save him. 50 then Jesus shouted loudly again, and gave up his spirit.
Mark 15:37 (NASB): And Jesus, giving a loud cry, expired.
Luke 23:46 (NIV): Then Jesus he exclaimed loudly: -Dad, I leave my spirit in your hands!- And saying this, expired.
In these three gospels considered synoptic because of the common vision they show about what surrounded Jesus during his earthly life. They reflect a common action of Jesus just before giving up his spirit.
This action is represented in a loud cry or exclamation, through which he expressed that he was fulfilling the mission given by his heavenly Father. With this cry, Jesus marked his victory against evil, sin and death.
Only the evangelist John is the one who makes known the words exclaimed by Jesus in the loud cry: It is finished. However, in the four canonical gospels you can feel the great love of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ for each one of us, in the consummation of the perfect sacrifice.
If you want to know more about the scriptures about the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, we invite you to enter the article, The gospels: Origin, canonical, apocryphal and more. Where you can learn about its origin, the types of gospels that exist, and which ones are accepted.
The meaning of the expression: finished is
The last words exclaimed by Jesus described by the evangelist in the verse John 19:30, prior to the delivery of his Spirit are: It is finished! The word consummate comes from the Greek term ἀποτελέω apoteléo, which is formed by two roots, namely:
- -ἀπό apó: Root that denotes if it is used as a prefix, separation, departure, cessation, termination, reversal, reestablishment, etc.
- -Y τελέω teleo: Whose meaning is to complete, execute, conclude, pay or forgive a debt, satisfy, finish, finish, consummate, fulfil, comply, etc.
What was it that Jesus finished executing on the cross of Calvary?
According to these definitions and original meanings, what was it that Jesus finished executing on the cross of Calvary? What was the reset completed? What debt did he end up paying in full?
In the answers to these questions you can find the meaning and meaning of the last words of Jesus: It is finished!, and it is that Jesus placed himself in the position of the lamb, to carry out the last sacrifice of purification, the perfect sacrifice .
Jesus Christ fulfilled, consummated on the cross the death sentence that was imposed on humanity due to sin, established by the law of Moses. The apostle Paul explains it very well in his letter to the Romans, telling us that there is no condemnation for those who are joined together with Christ by the Holy Spirit:
Romans 8: 2-3 (ESV): 2 because the law of the Spirit that gives life in Christ Jesus, freed you from the law of sin and death. 3 Because God has made what the law of Moses could not dobecause I was not able to do it due to human weakness: God sent his own Son in a weak condition like that of sinful man and as a sacrifice for sin, in order to condemn sin in that same weak condition.
Only in Christ Jesus can man fulfill the justice demanded by the Law of Moses. Since in Christ we stop living according to the weaknesses of the flesh, to have life in abundance, if we live according to the Spirit.
The perfect, consummated sacrifice is
Why is it said that the crucifixion of Jesus is the perfect sacrifice? In the Mosaic Law of the old covenant, God established the fulfillment of five types of sacrifice; These sacrifices or offerings would be a perpetual statute that the Jewish people had to fulfill for all generations. The five types of sacrifice or offerings can be found in the book of Leviticus of the Bible, and they are as follows:
The Burnt Offering Sacrifice (Leviticus 1:1-17)
Sacrifice of a pleasing aroma to God, which had the purpose of representing a life completely given over to God. Three types of animals were sacrificed, all male and without defects: An ox as a meaning of service, a lamb or kid as a representation of submission and humility; and finally, a bird as a representation of peace and meekness.
The Sacrifice of the grain offering (Leviticus 2:1-16)
Sacrifice of a pleasing aroma to God, which had the purpose of delivering the fruits of life of each man and woman to God. In this sacrifice, four types of offerings were presented: Unleavened flour as a meaning of genuine and sincere, oil that meant the anointing of the Holy Spirit, incense as the prayers of the saints and salt in representation of the eternal works.
The sacrifice for peace (Leviticus 3:1-17 and Leviticus 7:1-11)
Sacrifice of a pleasing aroma to God, which had the purpose of entering into communion with God, acknowledging man's guilt. In this sacrifice the three types of animals were offered, all male and without defects as in the sacrifice of the holocaust; as well as leavened breads.
The sacrifice for forgiveness (Leviticus 4:1-35 and Leviticus 5:1-19)
This sacrifice has a great difference with the previous ones because its smell is not pleasing to God, because the Lord does not like sin. The purpose of this sacrifice is to acknowledge the sinful nature of man.
A steer without defect, a male goat without defect, a goat without defect or a female lamb without defect should be offered as an expiatory sacrifice as the case may be. With this sacrifice forgiveness was achieved for all types of sins.
The Sacrifice of atonement (Leviticus 5:14-19 and Leviticus 6:1-7)
This sacrifice was made before a fault committed against the neighbor, so that it did not contain a pleasant smell to God. Since by offending others, God is also offended. The atoning sacrifice was intended to make restitution for the offense through forgiveness.
Jesus consummated the perfect sacrifice
Reflecting on the sacrifices included in the Mosaic Law, the words of Jesus can be understood very well: It is finished. Since Jesus Christ offered himself as a perfect sacrifice, because in Him all the sacrifices described above were fulfilled:
Hebrews 10: 10(NIV): And by virtue of that will we are sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, offered once for all.
10:14 (NIV): For by one sacrifice he has perfected forever those whom he is sanctifying.
Hebrews 10: 16-18 (NIV): This is the covenant that I will make with them after that time, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. 17 Then he adds: "And I will never again remember their sins and wickedness." 18 And when these have been forgiven, no other sacrifice for sin is needed.
In the Bible we can see that Jesus is the representation of the perfect and sinless man; he is God personified in a man. During his stay on earth he lived a holy life without blemish, only the son of God could be presented to fulfill the sacrifices established in the law.
This was a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God in all its purposes, even taking on the role of the scapegoat by being tempted in all things without committing sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV): 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in everything just as we are, though without sin.
Only Jesus Christ could mean the gateway to salvation for humanity and its reconciliation with the Heavenly Father.
It is finished and the veil of the temple is torn in two
Again in the Synoptic Gospels and together with the time of Jesus' expiration, the authors agree on an expression. Let us look at the following verses from these gospels:
Mark 15:37-38 (NKJV): But Jesus gave a loud cry and died. 38 at that time the veil of the temple was torn in two, from up to down.
Matthew 27:51 (NKJV): At that time the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; the earth trembled, the rocks split.
Luke 23:45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in half.
But, what did the three evangelists mean by this expression? What is the meaning of the veil being torn in two? Firstly, the veil in the tabernacle of God was the curtain located between the Holy place and the Holy place.
What did the veil represent?
The veil established a separation between the sinful nature of man and the holiness of God. Before the covenant of grace through Jesus Christ, only the high priest of God could enter and be in the presence of God.
Also so that this could only happen once a year and after the high priest had completed some purification rites. The evangelists with the common expression that the veil was torn, indicate that when Jesus delivered his Spirit, the veil ceased to exist.
So there is no longer any separation between humanity and the holiness of God, because Jesus Christ represents the entrance. Jesus Christ opened the heavens so that the Lord's people now have free entrance to the throne of grace.
Hebrews 10:18-20:18 When sins have already been forgiven, no more need de presentar sin offerings. 19 Brethren, since We can freely enter the Holy of Holies through the blood of Jesus Christ, 20 per the new and living way that he opened for us through the veil, that is, of his own body,
God through his Son Jesus Christ opened the heavens to be able to be in his presence and not only in a single Holy Place, but to dwell in our hearts.
We invite you to enter the article, Tabernacle: What is it?, meaning, and much more. So that you can delve a little deeper into the place where the presence of God was. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was symbolized by the ark of the covenant and through it the Lord guided the people of Israel. The tabernacle in the old covenant was only a shadow of what was to come, Jesus Christ the slain lamb.
Meaning of consummated is, for the Christian today
The words of Jesus, it is finished, do not tell the Christian today that the Lord obtained victory over death in his sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The meaning of these last words of Jesus lies in our being able to recognize the victory achieved by our Lord Jesus Christ.
A victory achieved through a sacrifice that represents the greatest demonstration of God's love for us that through Jesus Christ we become children of God. Perhaps we can never understand the magnitude of the meaning of the mission accomplished and accomplished by the perfect Lamb; but something is clear to us, and that is that God's divine plan was fulfilled.
The purpose of divine God was carried out by our Lord Jesus Christ by enforcing the law and nailing to the cross the sentence that was contrary to us and condemned us. Praised be the name of Jesus!
Jesus Christ justified us before the Heavenly Father and saves us, moving us from darkness to his admirable light in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Lord loved us and loves us in such a way that he shed his beautiful blood for the salvation of the world. So we have the duty to recognize our Lord Jesus Christ as the only one worthy of receiving all the honor, all the glory, all the praise, forever and ever, Amen!
Romans 8:10-11: But if Christ lives in you, the spirit lives because God has made them righteous, even when the body is destined for death because of sin. 11 what if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus lives in youthe same one who raised Christ will give new life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit of God who lives in you.
The Bible says that Christ defeated death.
So that as believers we remain in the faith of what it represents is finished, not just as an expression that came out of the mouth of Jesus. The Bible tells us and reminds us that those words confirm a fact, and it is the power of Jesus Christ over death, by defeating it, an example of this is the following verses:
- 2 Corinthians 5:21.
- Romans 6:23.
- 1 Peter 1: 18-19.
- Romans 5:8.
- 1 Peter 2:24.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
- Romans 10:9-10.
Continue with us reading: Bendiciones de dios that are waiting for you.
