IT IS FINISHED!
- Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
- Apr 19, 2019
- 4 min read
“He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."
John 19:28
What powerful and meaningful words: “It is finished.”
Today, I would like to explain the great significance and power of these three last words spoken before Jesus died. So what was finished? His life, His battle, His destiny, His defeat? No! Absolutely not!
In order to get the full explanation of these words, we must look at the Greek word, original word used before the Bible was translated into English. In fact, Jesus said, “Tetelestai,” a Greek word which means, “to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish."
Jesus’ whole plan and purpose was to come and die for humanity. The cross represents atonement, healing, reconciliation. We owed a debt we could never pay. Jesus payed a debt He never owed. He was saying, “I just successfully brought to an end what I planned to do.” In other words, “I was on a mission, a course of action, I succeed that which I had planned.”
Folks, there was no defeat! Total victory instead. How powerful were those words!
Let me help you understand more. I speak Italian fluently, (reason for all my grammatical mistakes. Thank God for my many copy editors or no book of mine would ever be published.) So, in the Italian language (true for most languages) We have a single word that has a powerful meaning. If you ever spoken to me you would know the many times, I use one word to say a mouthful of words. This is one of those words with an intent and powerful meaning.
Every time, I finish a book my copy editors hear me say, “I survived this book.” When I climbed Piazzale Castel San Pietro, in Verona, Italy or when I climbed on top of the volcano Diamond Head in Hawaii. I said, “I survived that climb.” You understand? What Jesus was saying was so very powerful. “I did exactly what I set out to do and I did it successfully.” Alleluia! He was proclaiming to all those there, “I won! My plan was successfully executed. I planned this.”
Please listen, it gets even better in this powerful statement. Tetelestai is one of those words that I just explained, which means so much more. Tetelestai is in the perfect tense. A little Greek lesson here. Thanks to my wonderful Greek friend. It says of an action that has been finished, completed, and put to rest in the past, AND the benefits or results go on, continue into the present. Glory to God. Did you catch this powerful word and it’s meaning? It never ends! What happened still works today. The power of the cross is still in effect today. It will never loose its power. It will continue forever until the end of time, this brings me to tears, happy, joyful tears. I understand what Jesus said. Even on the cross, Jesus was bringing hope, healing, and power that would never end. Alleluia to the Perfect Lamb of God.
Jesus perfectly executed what He was sent to do. Good Friday is so much more then just good. It conquered and defeated death. We get to live because He lives. It restored and restores relationships. It brought and continues to bring reconciliation between the sinner and God. It healed and continues to heal, completely bringing health to the sick. Diseases and sickness were and are arrested at the cross. Those in bondage, prisoners of a sick world were and are set free. It was done, completed, accomplished, settled, concluded, finalized, fulfilled...it came to a complete success because of what Jesus did.
We profited and gained so much by what Jesus came and successfully accomplished. The benefits, our gains are for our sake. It was for our own good. For our well being. He came to save us, redeem us, reconcile us to God, heal our brokenness, and heal ALL our diseases. He restored us successfully and completely. Do you now understand this powerful statement, “It is finished?!”
The Cross is still powerful, it keeps on going. It’s never ending. It holds great power, strength, and value. It was the greatest blessing to humanity. I like the word advantageousness because we were given favor when we were nobodies. We deserved nothing. Imagine you or I standing before the King and Queen of England, being invited to sit and eat at their table. That would be called favor.
Today let’s meditate on, “It is finished.” What is it that needs to be finished in your life that Jesus didn’t accomplish and successfully ended on the Cross? Whatever it is, it was done. Call it done. Are you a sinner? Great the Cross saved you from yourself. Are you broken? Great, Jesus healed the broken hearted and restored them. Are you sick? Great, He heals all our diseases. Whatever you need it was made available on a bloody Cross. Jesus paid it all by His precious blood. It cost His life, His blood so that it would be finished for you and me. Whatever it is your going through “It is finished.” It was taken care of it back then, and it continues to flow today and tomorrow until He comes back to bring us successfully home.
“Tetelestai!”
Thank You, Jesus!
Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
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