Did Jesus Really Say … “Finished!”?
In our series ‘Did Jesus Really Say…’ we reach Passion Week and contemplate one of the phrases Jesus used on the cross – ‘It is Finished’. What did he mean by this? Did he mean it was all over and his mission had failed? Or could he have meant something else? Like many people, I have come to love old VW Campervans. My wife and I have just bought one to restore…
Click ‘More’ to see what “Finished” means…
…Is this finished? Or…
…Is this finished?
Does Jesus mean what I was trying to do has now been totally wrecked? Or does he mean it’s the finished article?
We don’t actually have Jesus (Aramaic) words recorded in Scripture. What we do have is John’s Greek account saying,“Tetelestai”. Tetelestai is from the root word teleo [Teleology = study of final causes (purpose)]. So, more accurately Jesus said, “It is completed or accomplished”.
In John 19.28 we read, ‘Later, knowing that all was now completed’. So Jesus knew that all things had now been completed, finished, accomplished, satisfied – v28
But, what had been completed? What had been accomplished?
Well, the Father’s mission had been accomplished. This includes *Atonement, *Redemption, *Justification and *Salvation (*-See earlier notes on these subjects).
Then John records in v30, ‘When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
When Jesus said, “Finished!” (Tetelestai) He meant his mission was completed. The cross wasn’t failure. The cross of Christ had a purpose and that purpose had been fulfilled!!!