Triumphant Completion: The Significance of 'It Is Finished'

 

Summary

In today's reflection on John 19:30, we delve into the profound significance of Jesus' declaration, "It is finished." This statement marks the culmination of Christ's earthly mission and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus' words signify the end of His suffering, the completion of His obedience, the decisive victory over Satan, and the fulfillment of the atonement for our sins. These words are not just a conclusion but a triumphant proclamation of victory over sin and death.

Firstly, Jesus' suffering was brought to an end. He endured the depths of hell and the agony of the cross, yet emerged victorious. His suffering was not in vain; it was the necessary path to triumph over sin. Secondly, His perfect obedience was completed. Jesus lived the life we could not, fulfilling every commandment and living a sinless life. This obedience is credited to us when we are in Him. Thirdly, the battle against Satan was decisively won. On the cross, Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness, securing victory over the enemy. This victory is ours in Christ, freeing us from the bondage of sin and fear.

Moreover, the complete work of atonement was accomplished. Jesus bore our sins, endured divine wrath, and satisfied God's justice. His sacrifice was perfect and complete, leaving nothing for us to add. This finished work assures us of forgiveness, acceptance, and love in Christ. Lastly, while we have not finished our race, in Christ, we will. Our journey is ongoing, but with Jesus, we have the promise of completion and victory.

Key Takeaways:

- The End of Suffering: Jesus' declaration "It is finished" marks the end of His suffering and the beginning of His triumph. He endured the depths of hell and emerged victorious, showing us that suffering, though real, is not the end for those in Christ. [05:11]

- Perfect Obedience: Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience, fulfilling the law completely. This obedience is credited to us when we are in Him, freeing us from the impossible task of earning our way to heaven. [06:04]

- Victory Over Satan: On the cross, Jesus won a decisive victory over Satan. This victory is ours in Christ, freeing us from the bondage of sin and fear. In Him, the devil is a defeated foe, and we can live in the freedom of His triumph. [12:46]

- Complete Atonement: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was perfect and complete. It assures us of forgiveness, acceptance, and love in Christ. We do not need to add to His work; it is finished, and we are invited to rest in His grace. [14:21]

- Our Ongoing Journey: While we have not finished our race, in Christ, we will. Our journey is ongoing, but with Jesus, we have the promise of completion and victory. He invites us to trust in His finished work and to live in the hope of His promises. [20:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to the Cross
- [00:33] - The Silence and Suffering
- [01:08] - Jesus' Cry of Forsakenness
- [01:25] - "It is Finished" Proclaimed
- [02:07] - Victory in Death
- [03:21] - Christ Finished, You Haven't
- [03:36] - End of Suffering
- [06:04] - Complete Obedience
- [07:48] - Battle with the Enemy
- [10:35] - Crushing the Serpent
- [14:07] - Complete Atonement
- [17:40] - Our Incomplete Journey
- [20:25] - With Him, You Will Finish
- [29:22] - Application: Believe, Proclaim, Enjoy
- [41:46] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 19:30
- Colossians 2:15
- Genesis 3:15

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus' declaration "It is finished" signify in the context of John 19:30? How does this statement relate to the completion of His earthly mission? [01:25]
2. According to the sermon, what are the four aspects of Jesus' work that were finished on the cross? [03:36]
3. How does Colossians 2:15 describe Jesus' victory over the powers of darkness? What does this imply about the nature of His triumph? [11:18]
4. In Genesis 3:15, what is the significance of the promise that the Redeemer will crush the serpent's head? How is this fulfilled in the events of the cross? [10:35]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus' suffering and its end? What does this mean for believers today? [05:11]
2. In what ways does Jesus' perfect obedience impact the believer's relationship with God, according to the sermon? [06:04]
3. How does the sermon describe the ongoing battle with Satan and the believer's role in it? What does it mean for Satan to be a defeated foe in Christ? [12:46]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the believer's journey in light of Jesus' completed work? How does this shape the believer's hope and assurance? [20:25]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by suffering. How does Jesus' triumph over suffering encourage you in your current struggles? [05:11]
2. In what areas of your life are you striving for perfection? How can you rest in Jesus' perfect obedience instead of your own efforts? [06:04]
3. Identify a specific fear or sin that feels like a stronghold in your life. How can you apply the truth of Jesus' victory over Satan to this area? [12:46]
4. Consider the concept of complete atonement. How does knowing that Jesus' sacrifice is perfect and complete change the way you view your relationship with God? [14:21]
5. What steps can you take to trust in Jesus' finished work and live in the hope of His promises, especially in areas where you feel incomplete? [20:25]
6. How can you actively proclaim the good news of Jesus' completed work to those around you? What specific opportunities do you have this week to share this message? [35:40]
7. Reflect on the idea of enjoying Jesus' finished work. What practical changes can you make in your daily life to live more fully in the joy and peace of His victory? [38:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Triumph Through Suffering
Jesus' declaration "It is finished" marks the end of His suffering and the beginning of His triumph. He endured the depths of hell and emerged victorious, showing us that suffering, though real, is not the end for those in Christ. Jesus' suffering was not in vain; it was the necessary path to triumph over sin. His victory assures us that our own suffering, when united with His, can lead to spiritual growth and ultimate victory. In Christ, suffering is transformed from a place of despair to a pathway of hope and redemption. [05:11]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of suffering in your life where you need to invite Jesus' victory and hope? How can you begin to see this suffering as a path to spiritual growth?


Day 2: The Gift of Perfect Obedience
Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience, fulfilling the law completely. This obedience is credited to us when we are in Him, freeing us from the impossible task of earning our way to heaven. His life of obedience is a gift that covers our shortcomings and empowers us to live in freedom. In Christ, we are no longer bound by the weight of the law but are invited to live in the grace of His fulfilled promises. [06:04]

"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways are you still trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts? How can you rest in the perfect obedience of Christ today?


Day 3: Victory Over the Enemy
On the cross, Jesus won a decisive victory over Satan. This victory is ours in Christ, freeing us from the bondage of sin and fear. In Him, the devil is a defeated foe, and we can live in the freedom of His triumph. This victory empowers us to resist temptation and live boldly in the truth of our identity in Christ. We are no longer slaves to fear but are called to walk in the authority and freedom that Jesus has secured for us. [12:46]

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where fear or sin still holds power over you? How can you claim Jesus' victory in that area today?


Day 4: Resting in Complete Atonement
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was perfect and complete. It assures us of forgiveness, acceptance, and love in Christ. We do not need to add to His work; it is finished, and we are invited to rest in His grace. This complete atonement means that we are fully reconciled to God, and nothing can separate us from His love. We are called to live in the assurance of His finished work, knowing that our salvation is secure in Him. [14:21]

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel the need to earn God's love or forgiveness? How can you embrace the completeness of Jesus' atonement today?


Day 5: The Promise of Completion
While we have not finished our race, in Christ, we will. Our journey is ongoing, but with Jesus, we have the promise of completion and victory. He invites us to trust in His finished work and to live in the hope of His promises. As we walk with Him, we are assured that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion. Our journey is marked by His faithfulness and the certainty of His promises. [20:25]

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual journey where you feel incomplete or discouraged? How can you trust in Jesus' promise to complete the work He has started in you?

Quotes



Now as we've taken this journey through the sufferings of Jesus on the cross I tell you I have really looked forward to speaking on these words today what we're seeing here is that Jesus came through the agony of his suffering that we thought about last week he endured all of the pains of Hell he cried out from the depths but now he is announcing his victory he moves into death not defeated but triumphant and as he breathes his last he says it is finished. [00:01:43]

The long night of our Lord suffering was finished and I put this first because John describes how someone had held up that sponge soaked in vinegar which must have been so awful to the lips of the Lord Jesus in his moments of agony and the Apostle says notice there when Jesus had received the drink the vinegar he said it is finished can you imagine what that vinegar tasted like to his lips. [00:03:36]

The full course of his obedience was finished now remember why Jesus Christ came into the world the Son of God became a man to live the life that you and I would have had to live in order to get into heaven and since we have not lived that life he came to live that life for us he did indeed live the perfect life there was no sin in him. [00:05:59]

The decisive battle with his enemy was finished right there on the cross now the life of Jesus was a life of suffering as the completion of his suffering it was a life of obedience he completes his obedience it was also a life of conflict he came to engage in a fight he came to overthrow a tyrant he came to deliver you and me from the power of Satan. [00:07:41]

Christ dies and in his death he breaks Satan's power now the scripture is full of this for example Colossians chapter 2 in verse 15 having disarmed the powers and the authorities Christ made a public spectacle of them how triumphing over them by the cross now you might expect it to say that Jesus triumphed over the devil by the resurrection and that's true but that's not what it says here Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness by the cross. [00:11:11]

The complete work of his atonement is finished remember that Jesus came to seek and to save the Lost he came he says to give his life as a ransom for many and on the cross he says it is finished it's done he has borne the guilt of our sins he has endured the punishment of our hell the divine wrath has been spent on him the Justice of God has been satisfied in him the perfect sacrifice has been offered the complete atonement has been made hell has been vanquished the condemnation has been removed and now the Redeemer says it is finished. [00:14:12]

Jesus completed the work of atonement that's what we've just said and so in Christ if you are in Christ you are forgiven you are accepted and you are loved if you are in Jesus Christ or if you come to be in Jesus Christ today you do not have to do something else to be loved to be accepted or to be forgiven all you need is in Christ and if he is yours because he has completed the atonement if he's yours then you have all that he has accomplished in the atonement which means that the love of God the forgiveness of God and the acceptance of God streams to you from the Father in Christ it's finished. [00:21:04]

Jesus completed the full course of obedience so some of us who are still killing ourselves with a tense of perfectionism that we can never quite manage here this Jesus completed the full course of obedience so in Christ you have already lived the righteous life because he has lived it for you think of this if your hope of heaven rested on your works your hope could never stand why because your works are never complete they're not finished so if your hope of heaven dependent even in the smallest degree on something that you had to do in addition to what Christ has done your hope would collapse instantly but when your hope of heaven rests on Christ's finished work that hope is secure because his work is complete he says it is finished. [00:21:28]

Jesus completed the decisive victory over Satan at the cross so in Christ the devil is a defeated foe now he's not a defeated foe outside of Christ he in Christ he is a defeated foe let me make one or two quick applications here some of you look at your family history and you can see the work of Satan the destroyer running over generations and so sometimes some of you wonder now is there some kind of curse that hangs over my family line and if that is so what does that mean for me and I say to you today on the authority of the scripture no curse against you can stand if you are in Jesus Christ how could it because he won the decisive victory right there on the cross. [00:24:06]

Jesus completed the long night of his suffering and so in Christ your suffering will lead to glory and someone in pain here today no suffering last forever the Bible says weeping endures for a night but joy will come in the morning and if you are in Christ then whatever you are suffering today the Bible would say to you and Christ would say to you look at what lies ahead there is a resurrection body there is a new creation there is no more sin there is no more pain no more tears no more death and all this is yours when Jesus Christ is yours. [00:27:49]

Christ finished you haven't but with him you will there is hope for every person in every circumstance of life in this room today in Jesus Christ he's not on the cross now he is at the right hand of the Father and he invites you to put your faith and your trust in him so in these last minutes let's try and make some application we've seen that this work of Christ on the cross it's complete and that simply raises the question now what do you do then with a completed work and let me offer these answers what do you do with a work that is already complete well the first thing you do is you believe it you believe it. [00:28:48]

Every religion in the world and every cult every religion and every cult basically says you need to do something to get yourself into heaven do the prayers do the good works observe the disciplines whatever it is the gospel alone says it is finished the gospel alone says Jesus Christ has won the victory and now he invites all those who will come to him to share the spoils of his battle that's the good news so our mission is not to go out into this community and to try and force people to do something for God our mission is to go out into this community and to tell people what God has done in Jesus Christ for them and to say make this yours believe on the Lord Jesus Christ enter into all the good that he has accomplished. [00:37:15]

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Transcript
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