It is Finished
Can you imagine it? A God taken from glory, willingly giving Himself up to be destroyed by His own creation. Born into broken humanity so that in His perfection, mankind could once again be restored to perfect fellowship with Him. A King who made Himself a servant of all, so that in Him the nations would hope.[1]
“Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”[2]
Christ Jesus, the Lamb who was slain on our behalf. The One who died a sinner’s death, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.[3] By His stripes, we have been healed.[4] And so we sing,
A way to what? Or rather, to whom? The night of His betrayal, Jesus spoke with His disciples telling them,
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””[6]
His disciples were confused by His words. Thomas asked Him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”[7]
To which Jesus replied,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.””[8]
The way that Jesus made on the cross was a way into the Most Holy Place, into the presence of our Father in Heaven.[9] For so long, man had been separated from God, relying on the blood of animals to make temporary atonement for our sins. An atonement that was necessary because “the wages of sin is death…”[10]
Unfortunately, this blood of animals was never really able to clear a person’s conscious. It was an incomplete sacrifice that required repeating, year after year, serving as a reminder of sin.[11] But what could not be complete through animals, Christ was able to complete through the sacrifice of His own self. And in so doing, the veil was torn[12] and a way was made.
And now we dwell in the presence of God; seated with Christ in the Heavenly places. [13] We can be sure of this because Christ declared it on the cross saying, “It is finished.”[14] And as the One whose name is above every name, His word is final. We cannot negotiate with Him on this point. We cannot convince Him that the work He did on the cross is incomplete. No amount of failure on our part can undo the sufficiency of His perfect sacrifice. The King spoke, wearing His crown of thorns, carrying in His body the weight of our sins, He spoke and declared that He had completed what He had come to do. To give Himself up as a ransom for us. [15]
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”[16]
This Good Friday, let us celebrate by walking in the presence of our Father. Let us walk as the Good and Faithful. Confident as always that the One who began His good work in us if faithful to bring it completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.[17] Let us live as if our King has already been crowned with victory. Let us go forth and bless the nations in His name and let us advance His Kingdom for His glory.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.[18]
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