Jesus was brought before Pilate for trial. The Jewish leaders were vehement in wanting to see Him found guilty and condemned; they were ready for His disruption to their comfortable system to be over. But Pilate found no fault in Jesus and sought to release Him; he saw the conflict among the Jewish leaders, but in Jesus there was no reason for crucifixion. However, under pressure Pilate weakened. Though his words were strong, he had no faith; though he knew what was right, he caved to fear; the cries of the mob were greater than the conviction of his heart. Jesus was to be crucified. Even though he wrote, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” Pilate acknowledged Christ, but did not stand for Him. After being hung on the cross, as the thieves that flanked His right and left, his last words were: “‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19.30). No one took His life from Him; He willingly gave it; He offered Himself up as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for all our sins.
“It is finished.” Jesus completed the work the Father had sent Him to do; He fulfilled all the requirements of the Law; He fulfilled all prophecies concerning Himself. Jesus made the perfect sacrifice for our sin as the perfect Lamb of God. “It is finished,” and His sacrifice was totally complete, all-sufficient, never needing to ever be repeated. He purchased our full redemption; He provided for our total justification; He made absolute atonement for all our sin. In death He made it possible for us to know true life – now and for eternity. This is our victory, not in what we have done or could ever do, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary. And now we wait for the coming resurrection, when victory will be complete, when we will see Jesus face to face, and all our enemies, all enemies of our eternal God will be silenced. “It is finished” and our salvation is totally secured, fully complete, absolutely complete, ever complete.
Hark! the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary!
See! It rends the rocks asunder,
Shakes the earth and veils the sky!
“It is finished!”
Hear the dying Saviour cry!
“It is finished!” – O what pleasure
Do these charming words afford!
Heavenly blessings, without measure,
Flow to us from Christ the Lord.
“It is finished!”
Saints, the dying words record.
Finished all the types and shadows
Of the ceremonial law;
Finished all that God had promised;
“It is finished!”
Saints, from hence your comfort draw.
Tune hour harps anew, ye seraphs;
Join to sing the pleasing theme;
Saints on earth, and all in heaven,
Join to praise Immanuel’s name.
Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding Lamb!
Anne Steele
Having complete salvation – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 