The SEVEN Last Words of Jesus. Word: 6 - “It is finished”

A. Text: John 19: 30

“When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”

 B. Exegesis:

1. “It is finished.”

Jesus is aware that everything is now finished. Hence, He solemnly declares, “It is accomplished.” Once again we see His sovereignty, how He reigns from the cross, His throne. Thus from the beginning to the end, the theme is consistent. These human cries are those of a sovereign king who has already overcome the world.

2. “… handed over the spirit”

Jesus had promised the communication of the Spirit when He would be glorified: “Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’ He said this about the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified” (7,38-39).  Now the promised Spirit is handed over to the beloved disciple.

C. Application:

3. Suffering and evil have no real power over Jesus or over us, those whom He has enabled to become God’s children. “He came to what was his own, but his people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation not by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God” (1,11-13). Yes, we accept Him, we believe in His name, we are born of God and we are empowered to become God’s children. Hence nothing can wield any power over us – not even death, the greatest evil. John Donne is right to say in his poem:

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so …

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more: Death, thou shalt die.