“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
Over this past week, we have examined the final prayers of Jesus before His death beginning with His “High Priestly Prayer” and then going to His prayers on the cross. The words above are the last words Jesus uttered before He died. While it may not appear as a prayer, but more as a statement, they are words directed to the Father on our behalf and are written in Holy Scripture that we may share in their significance.
Jesus was not simply making a declaration that His life was over or His execution complete, He was stating the importance of what His death signified. Jesus came to die on the cross as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus died as an atonement for our fallen nature. Jesus died to pay the price that the Father’s justice demanded. When He bowed His head in death, Jesus declared that sin’s power and judgement was over, finished!
Because of Jesus’ death, guilt, punishment, shame and death are finished. When these imposters come to us, we can declare the prayer of Jesus and remind ourselves that they are finished and have no power over us. Because Jesus completed the Father’s plan of redemption and said, “It is finished” we can begin anew!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Nathan