It Is Finished - And It Begins

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:30

Jesus is hanging on the cross, nails through his hands and announces "It is Finished."  It's over.  Done.  Call it a wrap.  It is finished.  

So what exactly was finished?

I am sure that many thought it was finished.  The Romans, The Jewish Leaders.  Even the disciples.  Peter's denials weren't born of a bright future.  They all thought it was over and done and the followers of Jesus of Nazareth would disperse and go away.  It is finished.

But Jesus knew what was coming.  He is so confident in victory that He is handing out prizes, sharing the wealth.

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  - Luke 23:40-43

I am sure that to many seeing this it would have looked like the captain of the Titanic offering to make you co-captain shortly after striking the iceberg.  

He is saying.  You and me, we're in this together.  I'll share my victory with you.  It is finished.

It is finished. The Guilt, The pain, The shame, The hurt. The suffering.  The disgrace,  Death.  It is all finished.

In the temple there was a thick curtain that separated the inner part of the temple from the outer.  The Bible says that as Jesus hung on the cross the temple curtain tore apart.  The separation between man and God was finished as well.

But the finish also brought a new beginning.  It was the start of a new relationship between God and man,  Jesus bridges the gap so that we can have not a set of rules but a real relationship with God.  It all began when it was finished.

Happy Easter Everyone.