It is finished!

Good Friday John 19:28-37

28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’ 37 And again another passage of scripture says, ‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced.’

The finish line is in sight – the mission has been accomplished, all that remains is to announce the completion of the project. I realize that is a strange way to speak of the Crucifixion, but that is clearly the message from today’s reading. In vs. 28, 29, John cites a passage from Scripture (it is probably Psalm 22:15 that he has in mind). Why cite another passage of scripture – to say that the witness of the Bible hinges here – that all of Scripture finds its completion in the cross – and the victory that the Cross is.

Then in vs. 30, Jesus also announces the end of the mission, “It is finished.” There are a number of ways in which those last words of Jesus could be heard – were the words said in despair and defeat, were the words said in acceptance, were the words said in triumph and victory. I think that this last option fits the context best. The theme of Jesus going to be with the Father has held through much of what we have read in the last four weeks – and now that is to be accomplished – the mission is done. This is accomplishment, this is victory.

The soldiers were surprised that Jesus was already dead (vs. 33). It usually took longer for the crucified to die. So John is at pains to prove that Jesus was really dead. If Jesus was not dead, then the resurrection is not the defeat of death. A great deal hangs on the fact of Jesus’ death. 

PRAYER:

Lord God, we thank you that Jesus finished the mission, completed the task he was sent on. We thank you that Jesus did what he did, triumphing over sin and death and hell. In Jesus’ name. Amen.