It Is Finished
Tetelestai, is a transliteration of the Greek word used by Jesus as he hung on the cross dying. “It is finished” (John 19:30 ASV), and the same word used in verse 28, “all things were now accomplished,” are some of the most wonderful words ever composed in human language. Past perfect indicative is the form of the Greek verb above, which according to Kenneth Wuest, refers to “His work of procuring for lost sinners a salvation from sin through the blood of His Cross. The entire sense is, ‘It was finished and as a result it is forever done.”
In the grand splendor of God’s great plan for mankind, there are much larger implications in that one simple word tetelastai. The wheels had been set in motion to finally crush the serpent’s head from so long ago in the garden of Eden. From this point forward in all of human history, the outcome is certain. Past perfect indicative, means an act that was done in the past, which has results for the present, whenever that present may be, now or in the future. Christ’s death on the Cross, has once and for all defeated the adversary’s attempt to thwart the plan of God.
The implications are so extraordinary as to overwhelm our minds. What has been done, cannot be undone. The battle has been won. The victory is ours. He has by this one act, forever altered the course of human events.
Because of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, the course of history is set. Christ is on the throne, He is reigning in the midst of his enemies, and it is the power of His Holy Spirit that restrains evil in this world today. “We are more than conquerors through Him..” (Romans 8:37 ASV)
How can Christ be on the throne when there is so much evil going on around us? The answer of course, is another question: Can you imagine what the world would be like, if Christ were not on the throne? Can you imagine what the world would be like without the restraining power of The Holy Spirit? Just look to some of the parts of the world where the Christian message has not penetrated. Look into countries where the word of God is squelched. There you can see the effects quite literally of where satan’s influence is prevalent.
When we look around us in the United States of America, we still see evil, yes, but at least while we are still a nation “under God”, there are laws, and authorities to quell the influence of the evil one.
Whatever the outcome of those bad things we see around us, whether it be the situation of Terri Schaivo, the filibustering of the President’s judicial nominees, or the unrestrained power of the judiciary, it is all in God’s hands.
That certainly doesn’t relieve us of our responsibilities as citizens of this country, or our Christian responsibilities to be the light of the world. Those responsibilities are to help illuminate the shroud of darkness that surrounds us, to raise our voices in support of what is right, and to help expose what is wrong with society in general and the world around us.
It is Good Friday, a day which is by many acknowledged as a sad day, because it is the day Jesus died. True, it is sad that He died, but it is even more glorious that He did so, because without having died, He could never have risen from the dead, and that makes today, the most glorious day that ever dawned.
The poet and music writer Esther Kerr Rusthoi has written:
Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We’re tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray’r.Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past,
We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
If you take nothing else from this post, take this. The outcome is certain, the battle is won, the victory is ours, and the future is bright.
From this day onward let us move forward with the “Crown Rights of King Jesus”.
