Finished It Forever

Every four years, we eagerly anticipate the Olympic Games, marveling at the diverse events and athletes’ incredible determination. Whether it’s the track races or displays of strength in weightlifting and wrestling, we watch with excitement and high expectations. Yet, once the medals are awarded, the spotlight swiftly shifts to the next competition and its winner. But in the timeless pages of the Bible, the name of one ultimate victor never fades away: Jesus.

John 19:30: When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Tetelestai -It is Finished
The Greek word Tetelestai which means fulfill, accomplish, pay, is the last word that Jesus said on the cross. In those days, this word was used in four different contexts:

  • By servants when they’ve fulfilled the master’s command.
  • By the priests as they examined lambs to be sacrificed and declared as one without blemish and ready for sacrifice.
  • By artists when their masterpiece of art was completed.
  • By merchants -when a transaction was complete and the item was paid in full.

    When Jesus said Tetelestai, He was declaring that His work as a servant is completed, that He is the perfect Lamb of God, that the artwork of God’s redemptive plan that began in the Old Testament is now complete, and most importantly the transaction and payment for the penalty of sin was completed.

Forsaken by God
Matthew 27:45–46- And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

This is the only time in the Bible where we see Jesus addressing His Father as “my God.” Of all the pain Jesus suffered, the greatest one was that on the cross, the intimacy he had with God the Father was cut off. Isaiah chapter 53 says “Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” In order to finish the transaction and say Tetelestai, Jesus the sinless one became sin for us so that in Him we can become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Finished Work of the Victor
Colossians 2:13-15 “…Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”.

After going through the gruesome, cruel and excruciating pain of the cross, Jesus the victorious One rose up from the dead! By His death and resurrection, Jesus took the long list of accusations the enemy prepared against us and stamped the word “PAID” all over it. As my Pastor says at Communion time, salvation is free but it was not cheap.

The finished work of Jesus paid our penalty for our sin, sickness, and gave us access to eternal life. As we see in 1st Peter 3;18, Jesus went into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Life Application
Nothing in this world can enhance or replace what Christ accomplished on the cross. You don’t need to go on pilgrimages or perform rituals to receive this free gift. Simply accept this salvation and trust in Jesus to be your savior. When challenges arise and the enemy tries to intimidate, remember Jesus’ reassuring words in Revelation 1:18: “I am the living one; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” So, take heart, trust in the Lord, and confidently declare with Christ: Tetelestai – It is Finished!

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3 thoughts on “Finished It Forever”

  1. Those 4 completed processes truly has covered all the effects of sin over my life. His faithfulness till the end of his life makes everything complete. I am reminded since it was done by him, as a believer I just need to live it out. He has won the victory!

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