Good Friday – FINISHED
TEXT: After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there … When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” (John 19.28-29a, 30a)
TEXT: It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last. (Luke 23.44-46)
Such short and simple words: “I thirst.” “It is finished.” Jesus was at the point of death, and He could barely breathe.
But He could say the important things. He could ask for the sour wine that would complete the final prophecy in Psalm 69.21. He could commit His spirit into the hands of the Father who loved and sent Him to be our Savior. And He could announce the good news to all of us standing at the foot of His cross, trusting Him: “It is finished.”
Jesus’ work of suffering and dying and saving and remaking us to be God’s children — done, all done. The devil is defeated and his slaves set free. Even death itself is about to be destroyed — because next comes Jesus’ resurrection.
And we will share in it. In His great love, Jesus has bound us so tightly to Himself that our death becomes His death, and His resurrection becomes our resurrection. We cannot be separated from Him. From now on, where He goes, we will go. Because He lives, we will live. He will be our life forever.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Father, for giving us Your Son as our Life. Amen.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Reflection Questions
• How closely has Jesus bound you to Himself?
• What has He done with your sin?
• How do you know?
Responses