(John 19:30) Mission Accomplished

(John 19:30) Mission Accomplished

by Stephen Davey
Series: Sermons in Luke
Ref: Matthew 27:50; John 19:30

"Mission Accomplished"

John 19:30; Matthew 27:50

Cecil Rhodes was the British statesman who served as Prime Minister of Cape Town, South Africa in the late 1800's. He was also a business entrepreneur who saw the potential of the diamond mine industry, and by the age of 37 he owned 90% of the world's production of diamonds.

He became, in today's economy, one of the world's first billionaires. He was highly respected, accomplishing amazing feats of business expertise and leadership - even establishing the Rhodes scholarship program at Oxford University.

He died when he was only 48 years old - at the height of his career - anything but satisfied with his accomplishments. His perspective on his life was summed up in his final words from his deathbed when he whispered - "So much to do, so little done." (Source: Adapted from a sermon manuscript by Joel C. Gregory, https://www.preachingtoday.com/sermons/sermons/2016/february/it-is-finished.html)

I believe that most of us will honestly come to the end of life with the same sentiment - "there was so much to do, and so much of it went unfinished."

The truth is, we were raised to be achievers. Much of life revolves around finishing school, finishing a project, reaching a goal. (Source: Stu Epperson, Jr., Last Words of Jesus (Worthy Publishing, 2015), p. 108)

Your company might call it your quota - and when you finally reach that quota, they reward you by raising your quota.

Early on in life, as a little child, you were expected to finish things - by 36 months every parent wants their child to finish potty training, right?

The pressures on. You've finally added all kinds of awards and incentives - otherwise known as Christian bribes - you've promised them that if they at least sit there and try - you will give them half your kingdom. And you will!

The truth is, we all have this inborn drive to achieve something - wanting to graduate, get your driver's license, make the ball team, earn that merit badge, start that company, and on and on and on.

And none of us will come to the end of our lives and say anything much different than Cecil Rhodes - "So much to do . . . so little done."

None of us will come to the end of our lives and be able to say - "Everything I set out to do in life, I did - I leave nothing behind in my life unfinished."

No one can say that! Except One.

And this is the shout of completion from Jesus Christ - the only person ever to walk the planet who could deliver this statement - and He is about to shout it with joy, in the final moments of His life.

Now by way of a quick review, so far in our study, we've been observing these incredible statements - these last words of the Lamb from the cross.

We've combined the gospel accounts to cover all seven of them - in the order the Lord delivered them. Jesus is nailed to the cross at 9:00 AM according to Mark 15:25 - and for six hours, He will be alive.

We have been watching this scene of mystery and majesty unfold.

Jesus has walked up that hill called The Skull. I've mentioned the Greek word is kranius which gives us our word cranium - for skull. The Aramic word for skull is Golgotha, and the Latin word - Calvaria - which gives us the word - Calvary. (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn (Word Publishing, 2001), p. 125)

One author wrote that Jesus will deliver seven sermons from His wooden pulpit - this cross. (Source: Stu Epperson, Jr., Last Words of Jesus (Worthy Publishing, 2015), p. 4)

And sermons they are.

Now between 9:00 AM and noon - Jesus makes three statements.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The original construction informs us that Jesus repeats this over and over again - as they nail His hands and feet - "Father forgive them" - as they spit on Him and mock Him - "Father forgive them."

Next, in one of the most surprising death-bed conversions, so to speak, one of the thieves hanging next to Jesus is given the promise from the Lord, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise."

And that volume of truth reveals there is life after death; there is no such thing as soul sleep, or an unconscious spiritual limbo, or Purgatory where you suffer for your sins before you can be with the Lord after death. That thief dies, and opens his eyes in the Garden of King Jesus.

Then third, Jesus says to Mary, "Woman, behold your son" and to John, "Behold your mother."He fulfills the responsibilities of the first-born son to establish the care of his mother - Jesus fulfills the law to the very end.

Now following this third statement, a thick, eerie, supernaturally produced darkness descends and covers the globe for three hours as Jesus enters into His cross-work, bearing our sin as our substitute.

He is saturated with our sin and separated from the Triune God - Father and Spirit - for the first time in eternity past.

As the darkness encircles the globe, Jesus cries out with that fourth statement: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!"

Though fully divine and aware of the reasons, He cries out as fully human - allowing us to do the same while suffering as we ask our Heavenly Father the same question, "Why?"

With that, Jesus goes silent for three hours while He bears the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

Then the fifth statements is made as Jesus says, "I thirst".

There is little doubt that quenching His thirst wasn't the issue because he knew that in less than a minute or two, He will give up His Spirit in death.

If anything, most evangelical scholars agree that the Lord is clearing His throat just enough to be heard by these witnesses - and certainly for the record of redemptive history.

John's gospel account gives us the details of the Lord's 6th statement - so let me invite your attention to John chapter 19.

John writes in chapter 19 and verse 28:

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." 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. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished . . ." John 19:28-30a

Scholars believe Jesus said this in the Greek language in order to be understood by everyone. And it's quite an amazing word.

The Greeks were proud of the fact that their universal language was able to communicate so much with so few words. As one author wrote, they could communicate "an ocean of matter in one drop of language." (Source: Arthur W. Pink, The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross (Baker, 1958), p. 102)

It is finished is only one word in the Greek language. It's the word tetelestai - one author wrote that this is the greatest single word ever uttered in human history. (Source: James M. Stalker, The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ (Zondervan, 1966), p. 149)

In one word, it sweeps us into the gospel of Christ.

Let me tell you, if you've ever wanted to know:

  • how to be right with God -
  • how to know how you're sins could be forgiven -
  • how you can know that you are truly on your way to heaven, guaranteed -
  • all that is bound up in this one Greek word - "tetelestai" - "It is finished."

And by the way, Jesus delivered this word, grammatically, in the third person - not the first person.

He didn't say, "I am finished!" There is a vast difference between saying, "I am finished", and "It is finished." And it's 3rd person indicative, which speaks of certainty. (Source: Adapted from Joel Gregory)

Jesus didn't say, "I hope it's finished", "I think it might be finished" - no, no - He declared with certainty, "It is finished."

Now this word in the Greek language - tetelestai - was a common word in Jesus' day.

It has been found in numerous archaeological sites, for a variety of reasons.

And the way it was used adds one nuance after another to the beauty and grace of the gospel of Christ.

The word was used by servants. A master would tell his servant to go do something and when the servant had completed the task, he would report back and say, "Tetelestai" - I've finished the task you assigned me.

So Jesus, the faithful Servant, finished the work and will of God the Father.

The word was used by the Jewish priests who inspected an animal sacrifice brought by someone for offering to the Lord.

After examining the sacrificial animal, if there was no blemish or disqualifying mark, he would pronounce it "perfect", using a Hebrew or Aramaic equivalent to tetelestai.

So Jesus was the Lamb without blemish for the final sacrifice.

When an artist completed a painting - they would step back, lay down their brush and announce, tetelestai - my work of art is completed.

Likewise, the beauty of salvation is a masterpiece of divine skill, painted with the colors of grace and mercy.

Merchants in the marketplace would write on receipts for people who paid in full for their items this same word, tetelestai.

Word usages adapted from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Courageous, (Victor Books, 1989), pp. 58-62

So also, the payment price for the just demands of God were paid in full.

It was a word used in the criminal system. Should you be caught for stealing something from that marketplace and put in jail for 6 months, the jailer would write on a scrap of parchment your name, your crime and the amount of time you were to serve behind bars.

He'd tack it up on the door of your cell. Then at the end of 6 months, he'd write the word "tetelestai" on that parchment and give it to you as a confirmation of your release.

You served your time - you paid for your crime - you were now free to go.

So also, Jesus paid for your crimes against the righteous commands of God.

Let me tell you, beloved:

  • You can't any paint to the canvass of the Lord's masterpiece;
  • You can't add your works, to the finished work of Christ;
  • You can't pull out your checkbook and try to pay for it;
  • You can't pull out a rule book and try to earn it.

The greatness of the gospel is not "do this" - but "it has been done." (Source: Adapted from Warren W. Wiersbe, Jesus' Seven Last Words (Back to the Bible, 1981), p. 64)

Tetelestai! It is finished.

But He still has to die, rise again, and ascend - all of which will ratify this declaration.

So what exactly did Jesus finish?

Let me give you some goals that Jesus accomplished - the list could be much longer, but let me get your thinking started with just three accomplishments.

First, Jesus completed the prophecies of Messianic scripture.

  • The prophecy that He would be born as a member of the human race (Genesis 3:15);
  • That His mother would conceive as a virgin (Isaiah 7:14);
  • That He would be a descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13);
  • That He would be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Micah 5:2);
  • That His birth would bring great weeping to that region (Jeremiah 31:15); which it did when Herod ordered all the children killed under the age of 2 to be killed in an attempt to wipe out Jesus, born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:16-17 - and Herod did this, Matthew records, so that what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet would be fulfilled;
  • Furthermore, the prophesies of the Old Testament specified that that the Messiah's parents would flee to Egypt and then return later to their homeland (Hosea 11:1);
  • That a forerunner would precede the coming Messiah (Malachi 3:1 - fulfilled in John the Baptizer)
  • That the Messiah would open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf and the lame will leap as a deer and the mute will sing (Isaiah 35:5-6)
  • The Old Testament prophesied that He would be poor - and He was - He had to borrow everything from the boats He sailed in, to the homes He ate in, to the donkey He rode on to the tomb He was buried in (Psalm 40)
  • Psalm 78 prophesied that He would speak in parables
  • David prophesied in Psalm 107 that He will cause the storm to be stilled and the waves of the sea to be hushed - which He did more than once
  • Zechariah prophesied that He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt (Zechariah 9:9);
  • That He would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53)
  • That He would be hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4);
  • That His hands and feet would be pierced; that He would hang next to criminals; that the crowd would surround Him and mock Him and that his garments would be gambled by the casting of lots (all that and more in Psalm 22).

Jesus literally completed the goal of all Old Testament prophecies related to the Messiah's first coming, and His sacrificial, atoning death as the final Passover Lamb.

Secondly,

Jesus canceled the record of the believer's sins.

The Apostle Peter said that Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree - the cross (I Peter 2:24).

Isaiah put it this way -

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Isaiah was speaking of the cross-work of Christ, the Suffering Servant - 5. He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities.

In other words, the Triune God partnered together from eternity past, to supernaturally and mysteriously, place upon God the Son the iniquities - the sins of us all.

The record of your sin was laid upon Him.

Imagine it this way - suppose my Bible represents every sin you've ever committed and will yet commit. It also includes every good thing you should've thought or done, but you didn't - James writes, To him who knows to do good and doesn't do it - it is sin (James 4:17).

Imagine this opening page is your birth certificate and this last page is your death certificate - and everything in between is a record of your sins.

Isaiah said that it pleased the Father to bruise Him - to pierce Him - and He laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Now if God the Father laid upon God the Son all your iniquities, then when you trust in Him alone to forgive you, this record of sin is immediately and eternally no longer on you.

If it's on Him, it can't be on you.

And because sin is no longer on you, you are no longer under condemnation. (Source: Pink, p. 114)

And that's why Paul can end his personal testimony of sinful struggles in Romans 7 by praising God in chapter 8 -

There is therefore now (not later - not I hope it'll work out when I die - no! NOW!) there is now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Jesus Christ died for, completely paid for, ahead of time and for all of eternity, your record of sin, effectively canceling the guilt of your sin from the record of your life.

And let me tell you, your hope is not in the fact that you stop sinning - but that you are saved by Christ, who took your sin upon Himself.

The truth is, as long as you're alive you will continue adding to the record of sin for which Jesus atoned.

The record of our iniquities is longer than we can imagine. Which is why the fountain of blood that cleanses us is never turned off (1 John 1:7).

I went online this past week and saw the image of the National Debt Clock - it keeps ticking away.

It's hanging on a wall in Midtown Manhattan, near West 43rd street. It was installed in 1989 when the national debt was 2.7 trillion dollars. Not too long ago, the original design had to be updated in order to add more zero's.

If you look at it the digits are moving so quickly that you can't follow them. It's a stunning reminder of a growing national debt - that frankly seems insurmountable.

It made me wonder - what if we all walked around with a sin-meter over our heads. It clicked for every sinful thought, act, plan, sinful wish, desire, impulse, word, sinful reaction, sinful emotion, sinful response - one click at a time.

  • We say an unkind word - click.
  • We entertain a selfish thought - click.
  • We harbor resentment - click.
  • We demand our way - click.
  • We act in pride - click.
  • We doze off during the pastor's sermon - click, click, click. (Source: Adapted from Max Lucado, Unshakable Hope (Thomas Nelson, 2020), p. 93)

Imagine the ongoing, rising number of our personal sin debt.

As one author wrote, "You are more sinful than you can even imagine; which means you are more forgiven than you could ever dream." (Source: Adapted from Tim Keller/online quote)

The apostle Paul writes to the Colossians this great truth:

God made [us] alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14

That means:

  • the cross of Christ is the grave of your sins.
  • The death of Christ is the death of your guilt.
  • The cross is an eraser of your criminal record against the holiness of God.

My sin--O, the bliss of this glorious thought!

(The hymnwriter put it)

My sin--not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (Source: Horatio G. Spafford, "It Is Well with My Soul," 1873)

How did this happen - and when did it happen? Spurgeon preached in the 1800's and said: "Jesus Christ lifted the cup of our sin and guilt to His lips and He drank our damnation dry." (Source: Adapted from Charles H. Spurgeon, Christ's Words from the Cross (Baker, 1984), p. 94)

That cup was drained dry and now Jesus declares - It is finished!

Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of scripture

Jesus canceled the record of the believer's sins.

Now third,

Jesus crushed the power and plans of the Serpent

"It is finished" is not the cry of a victim of Satan, but a victor over Satan, death and sin. (Source: Adapted from Pink, p. 102)

To every human observer, the cross looked like the devil's greatest triumph and God's greatest failure. But in reality, the cross was the crushing of Satan's power over death and the grave.

In Psalm chapter 22 where the crucifixion is prophesied with so many incredible details. It opens in verse 1 with, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It ends in verse 31 with the words, "He has finished it."

In the middle of the Psalm, at verse 12 we read:

Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. Psalm 22:12

This is a reference to the attack on Christ while hanging on the cross - the jeering of the underworld - the raging and reviling of demons.

Bashan is considered by scholars to represent the Old Testament version of the gates of hell - literally, the gateway to the world of demons.

In documents that have been discovered outside the Bible, Bashan was considered the home of the serpent. (Source: Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm (Lexham Press, 2015), p. 289)

While you and I tend to focus on the religious leaders sneering at Jesus and spitting on Him, and the cruelty of the soldiers and mockery of the crowd -

We can't even imagine the sky, which Jesus would have seen, filled with the raging of demons against the Son of God.

  • They are mocking His defeat -
  • magnifying the separation He was experiencing from God the Father -
  • assuming His helplessness -
  • cheering the disgraceful end of His life -
  • He's gonna die accursed from God - He's gonna die as a man -
  • "You have failed!"
  • They are urging Him to doubt His Father's plans and admit defeat.

But then Jesus shouts, "It is finished!"

Contrary to corrupted church tradition, Jesus did not descend into hell to suffer at the hands of the Devil -

He did not become the helpless pincushion of demon pitchforks for three days and nights . . . the Devil and His demons were crushed at the cross.

Paul writes further to the Colossians - let me repeat verse 14 and then read on:

"He canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. (now notice) He disarmed the rulers and authorities (these are high ranking demons, including Satan; he disarmed them - He took away their power) and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them (where) in the cross." Colossians 2:14-15

Can you imagine the sky around Calvary - packed with the demons of hell; but suddenly, Satan and the demons recognize that His death was part of redemption's plan.

They might've wondered. They didn't know the future - Satan is not omniscient.

  • But they did know that Jesus was God the Son -
  • they did know He is saturated with sin;
  • they did know that He is separated from God the Father - they heard Him cry out that He was forsaken;
  • they saw the sun hide and the darkness descend. they assumed this was the end of Jesus' plans for a Kingdom and a crown
  • He is a God who can be defeated!

They assumed they had won!

But suddenly it all backfires on them.

The shout of Jesus, "It is finished" effectively said to them: "You didn't know - this was my transaction with God the Father - this was the plan all along."

Hebrews chapter 2 gives us the announcement that through death Christ will destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14)

Tetelestai means - "Checkmate! You lose!"

  • And now the demonic world is howling in their defeat - Paul writes that they are now, at the site of the crucifixion, openly shamed - He has triumphed over them;
  • their leader is crushed;
  • their plans are destroyed;
  • their doom is sure.

Martin Luther the reformer wrote, "One little word shall fell them" - and that one word is tetelestai."

Listen, when Jesus shouted "tetelestai" - "It is finished" - "it wasn't the cry of a martyr or the gasp of a worn-out life." (Source: Ibid)

Jesus didn't die with the whisper - "There was so much to do and so little done" -

No, this was the declaration on the part of the Redeemer that everything for which He came from heaven to earth to do, was now finished.

It was mission impossible - until He shouted what only He could shout to the universe - Mission accomplished!

Jesus Christ has won!

  • Yes, there are still skirmishes.
  • Satan and his kingdom refuses to lay down their arms and surrender -
  • they will fight Him to the end.

And we still fail our commander and our King.

But our victory is already secure - we are already safe - and this word - tetelestai - declares His eternal victory -

And listen, it's a victory that He will share it forever with you - it's yours for the asking.

And if you haven't, ask Him now to become your Savior - your Redeemer - today!

And if He is your Redeemer today, He will be your Savior forever.

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