JOHN 19
There are words and phrases that have changed the entire trajectory of your life. “We’re moving.” “Cancer.” “Divorce.” “I love you.” “I’ll miss you.”
John 19 contains some of the most powerful words in the entire Bible. This passage speaks of the horrific crucifixion of Christ. Jesus was a carpenter who had driven many nails into wood throughout His lifetime. Now, nails have been driven into His own hands. Ultimately, Jesus was nailed to His wooden cross made up of trees that He created. He was nailed to the the cross around 9AM, and now it was getting close to 3PM. He was up there, beaten and bloodied. He was struggling to keep His breath, and He took a quick drink to clear out His throat and muster the strength to exclaim, “It is finished!” (John 16:30).
In the ancient context, this phrase was commonly used in referring to debt— there are millennia-old documents where we see this slogan stamped on the bottom. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was saying, “It’s over; it’s paid in full.” He did not just mutter these words: this was His victory exclamation. This is not the cry of a victim; it’s the scream of a victor. With that battle cry, Jesus announced that He has abolished anything and everything that was getting in the way of Him and the people He loves.
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” you were on His mind. We tend to give a lot of power to our shortcomings and failures, but there is good news! There is unimaginable power in the name of Jesus. We must never grant power to our sin, shame, and struggles because Jesus said it is paid in full. Don’t live as if your sin and shame are greater than the cross. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it.