It Is Finished
Pastor Jun Park
April 3, 2025
John 19:29-30
29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
This is Jesus’ last statement on the cross. He declares these 3 words in the English, “It is finished”. This last statement is 3 words in English but it is one word in the GREEK. That word is the Tetelestai (τετέλεσται).
- 1. Business/Accounting Use: Written on ancient receipts or invoices to signify that a debt was completely fully paid
- 2. Judicial Use: Used in a court setting when a sentence was fully served
- 3. Military Use: Used when the battle was completely won, to announce their victory and full completion of a mission
“Lead me to the cross and show me his wounds. May I there see my sins as the nails that transfixed him, the cords that bound him, the thorns that tore him, the sword that pierced him. Help me to find in his death the reality and immensity of his love. Open for me the wondrous volumes of truth in his [words], ‘It is finished.’ Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of atonement achieved, expiation completed, satisfaction made, guilt done away, my debt paid, my sins forgiven, my person redeemed, my soul saved, hell vanquished, heaven opened, eternity made mine.” The Valley of Vision