Sermons on John 19:30
The various sermons below interpret John 19:30 with a shared emphasis on the Greek word "tetelestai," meaning "it is finished," highlighting the completeness and finality of Jesus' work on the cross. They commonly illustrate this concept through analogies such as an artist completing a painting or a merchant stamping a debt as paid in full, underscoring the idea that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient and requires no additional human effort for salvation. The sermons collectively emphasize that salvation is a free gift of grace, not something to be earned, and that Jesus' declaration signifies victory over sin and death. This shared interpretation offers believers assurance and a sense of triumph in their faith, encouraging them to embrace the freedom and forgiveness that come through Christ's finished work.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique nuances and contrasting perspectives. One sermon contrasts the Catholic view of ongoing sacrifice with the biblical teaching of Jesus' once-and-for-all sacrifice, emphasizing the finality of His work. Another sermon highlights Jesus as the high priest and the only mediator between God and humanity, using His seamless garment as a symbol of His priesthood. Some sermons focus on the theme of justification by faith, while others explore the concept of substitutionary atonement, where Jesus takes the place of sinners. Additionally, one sermon introduces the theme of forgiveness as a divine mandate, urging believers to forgive others as they have been forgiven.
John 19:30 Interpretation:
Embracing Grace: Freedom Through Christ's Finished Work (Cornerstone Church TV) interprets John 19:30 by emphasizing the Greek word "tetelestai," which means "it is finished." The sermon highlights the perfect passive indicative tense of the word, indicating that the action is completed and its effects are ongoing. The speaker uses analogies such as an artist completing a painting, a builder finishing a building, and a merchant stamping a debt as paid in full to illustrate the completeness and finality of Jesus' work on the cross.
Jesus' Sacrifice: The Completion of Our Salvation (River City Calvary Chapel) interprets John 19:30 by contrasting the Catholic view of ongoing sacrifice with the biblical teaching that Jesus' sacrifice was once and for all. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' declaration "it is finished" means that the work of salvation is complete, and there is no need for additional sacrifices or human efforts to earn salvation.
Salvation: A Free Gift of Grace Through Faith (The Courageous Church) interprets John 19:30 by focusing on the completeness of Christ's work for salvation. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is not about human effort or earning God's favor but is a free gift of grace. The speaker uses the analogy of a drowning person being saved to illustrate that salvation is entirely the work of Christ, not a cooperative effort.
Embracing the Victory of Christ's Resurrection (Michael Gold) interprets John 19:30 as a declaration of victory rather than defeat. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' statement "It is finished" signifies the completion of His mission and the victory over sin and death. The preacher uses the analogy of a coin to symbolize the victory believers have in Christ, suggesting that whenever one feels down or overwhelmed, they can remember that "It is finished" and claim victory in Christ.
Embracing Forgiveness: A Reflection of God's Grace (Connection Church KY) offers a linguistic insight into the phrase "It is finished," explaining that in the original language, it means "debt canceled" or "paid in full." This interpretation highlights the completeness of Jesus' sacrifice, emphasizing that nothing more is required from believers to settle their sin debt.
The Cost of Grace: Christ's Sacrifice and Salvation (Lakepointe Church) interprets "It is finished" as a cry of victory, not defeat. The sermon explains that the Greek word "tetelestai" used by Jesus means "paid in full," indicating that Jesus' sacrifice was complete and sufficient for the salvation of humanity. The preacher emphasizes that this statement signifies the fulfillment of Jesus' role as the Passover Lamb, providing a death blow to sin and death.
John 19:30 Theological Themes:
Embracing Grace: Freedom Through Christ's Finished Work (Cornerstone Church TV) presents the theme that the law is finished, and believers are no longer under the system of earning God's favor through works. The sermon emphasizes that righteousness is received by faith in Jesus, not by adhering to religious rules.
Jesus' Sacrifice: The Completion of Our Salvation (River City Calvary Chapel) introduces the theme of Jesus as the high priest, emphasizing that He is the only mediator between God and humanity. The sermon highlights the significance of Jesus' seamless garment as a symbol of His priesthood.
Salvation: A Free Gift of Grace Through Faith (The Courageous Church) emphasizes the theme of justification by faith, highlighting that believers are declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus, not by their works. The sermon underscores the idea that salvation is a free gift of grace, not something to be earned.
Embracing the Victory of Christ's Resurrection (Michael Gold) presents the theme of victory in Christ. The sermon suggests that Jesus' declaration "It is finished" is a proclamation of victory over sin and death, offering believers a sense of triumph and assurance in their faith.
Embracing Forgiveness: A Reflection of God's Grace (Connection Church KY) introduces the theme of forgiveness as a divine mandate. The sermon emphasizes that believers are called to forgive others as they have been forgiven by God, using the completeness of Jesus' sacrifice as the standard for forgiveness.
The Cost of Grace: Christ's Sacrifice and Salvation (Lakepointe Church) explores the theme of substitutionary atonement. The sermon highlights that Jesus took the place of sinners, bearing the punishment they deserved, and that His declaration "It is finished" signifies the completion of this redemptive act.
John 19:30 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Jesus' Sacrifice: The Completion of Our Salvation (River City Calvary Chapel) provides historical context by describing the physical and spiritual agony Jesus endured during crucifixion. The sermon includes details about the Roman practice of scourging and crucifixion, as well as the cultural significance of the seamless garment worn by Jesus, which was typical of a high priest.
The Cost of Grace: Christ's Sacrifice and Salvation (Lakepointe Church) provides historical context about the Passover and the crucifixion. The sermon explains that Jesus' crucifixion coincided with the Passover, drawing parallels between Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb and the sacrificial lambs of the Jewish tradition. The preacher also describes the Roman practice of crucifixion and the significance of Jesus' statement "It is finished" in that cultural and historical setting.
John 19:30 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Grace: Freedom Through Christ's Finished Work (Cornerstone Church TV) references Romans 5:19 to explain the contrast between Adam's disobedience and Jesus' obedience, highlighting the theological concept of Jesus as the "last Adam." The sermon also references Galatians 3:21 and Romans 10:4 to support the idea that the law is fulfilled in Christ.
Jesus' Sacrifice: The Completion of Our Salvation (River City Calvary Chapel) references Psalm 69:8 to illustrate the fulfillment of prophecy regarding Jesus' rejection by His family. The sermon also mentions the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis as a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice.
Salvation: A Free Gift of Grace Through Faith (The Courageous Church) references Romans 3:24 and Ephesians 2:8-9 to emphasize the doctrine of justification by faith. The sermon also references Genesis 3 to illustrate the human tendency to try to cover sin with self-effort, contrasting it with God's provision of salvation through Jesus.
Embracing Forgiveness: A Reflection of God's Grace (Connection Church KY) references Matthew 18:21-35, where Jesus teaches about forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant. The sermon uses this passage to illustrate the expectation that believers forgive others as they have been forgiven by God. Additionally, Ephesians 4:31-32 is cited to emphasize the call to forgive as God forgave us in Christ.
The Cost of Grace: Christ's Sacrifice and Salvation (Lakepointe Church) references John 15:13, where Jesus speaks of laying down one's life for friends, to highlight the sacrificial nature of Jesus' death. The sermon also cites 2 Corinthians 5:21 to explain the concept of Jesus becoming sin for humanity, emphasizing the completeness of His redemptive work.
John 19:30 Christian References outside the Bible:
Jesus' Sacrifice: The Completion of Our Salvation (River City Calvary Chapel) references Dr. C. Truman Davis, an MD, who wrote an article from a medical standpoint about the physical aspects of crucifixion. The sermon uses this reference to provide a detailed description of the suffering Jesus endured on the cross.
Abiding in Christ: The Path to Spiritual Fruitfulness (First Baptist Church Peachtree City) references Dr. Tony Evans, who provides an analogy of a refrigerator needing to be plugged into a power source to function, illustrating the necessity of believers abiding in Christ. The sermon also mentions Charles Stanley's book "The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life" and Andrew Murray's "The True Vine" as resources for understanding the abiding life.
John 19:30 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing Grace: Freedom Through Christ's Finished Work (Cornerstone Church TV) uses the analogy of an artist completing a painting, a builder finishing a building, and a merchant stamping a debt as paid in full to illustrate the completeness of Jesus' work on the cross.
Salvation: A Free Gift of Grace Through Faith (The Courageous Church) uses the analogy of a drowning person being saved to illustrate that salvation is entirely the work of Christ, not a cooperative effort. The sermon also uses the example of tangled electrical cords to illustrate the futility of trying to fix one's own life without Christ.
Embracing the Victory of Christ's Resurrection (Michael Gold) uses the analogy of a coin to symbolize the victory believers have in Christ. The preacher suggests that carrying a coin inscribed with "It is finished" can serve as a reminder of the victory and assurance believers have in Jesus' completed work on the cross.