Message from Scripture: 7/17/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from John 19:30: “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

These words of our Lord were the last He offered from the cross before dying. “It is finished” is a statement of triumph, indicating He left nothing undone God had for Him to accomplish in His ministry. But what all is it that Jesus finished? And what does that mean for us as His followers today?

For one, all the prophecies made about Jesus were fulfilled. For example, the birth of the Savior (Isa. 7:14), the place of his birth (Micah 5:2), His sufferings (Isa. 53), all had been completed in Him. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).

In addition to this, Christ’s work of redemption was fulfilled. We have salvation in Jesus Christ by virtue of the fact that he died in our place. John reminded his readers, “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Also, the power of Satan was destroyed. This doesn’t mean Satan no longer tempts us to sin, but that the power he held over us due to sin to condemn us, has been overcome by the blood of Christ. “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

May we rejoice in the blessings we have through what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. May we also live in His love, to reflect His life active in us, in all we say and do. Have a great day. God bless.

Robert