HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

Perhaps the most important final words ever uttered in all of history was the proclamation that Jesus made from the cross as He shed His blood and gave up His life for us – “It is finished.” These words weren’t only the declaration that Jesus had finished the work that the Father had sent Him to do. These words were not as much the culmination and end of Jesus’ life here on earth as they were a beginning of life for all of mankind. When Jesus breathed His last and shouted His final words, He opened the door for all that we would need for life and godliness.

The words “It is finished” are the only way to salvation by which we can have forgiveness of sin and eternal life with God (Acts 4:12). Because “It is finished” Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, urging us to open the door and let Him in (Revelation 3:20). Because “It is finished” we can have life abundantly, overflowing, to the fullest (John 10:10).

“It is finished” ushers into our lives the peace that passes all understanding (Phillippians 4:7), an inexpressible and glorious joy (I Peter 1:8), hope as an anchor to our souls (Hebrews 6:19), and God’s great and awesome love that He lavishes on us (I John 3:1). “It is finished” meant that the Holy Spirit could come to dwell within us to be our teacher, our comforter, our counsellor and guide, to be our help in time of need (John 14:26, 16:13). His presence is ever with us.

• When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” all the power we would ever need to walk uprightly before the Lord was released to us (Colossians 1:11).
• Because “It is finished” we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phillippians 4:13).
• Because “It is finished” we can have healing for our wounded hearts and ailing bodies (Isaiah. 53:5).
• Because “It is finished” we can have freedom from every bondage and every addiction (Isaiah. 61:1).

Through those three words, “It is finished,” Jesus made available to us all we would ever need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). What more could He have done? There is nothing more that God can give us or do for us that He’s already done. He already loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), and nothing we could do could make Him love us more. He has already given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). “It is finished” makes available to us all the strength and power we will ever need to be victorious over sin and the flesh (I Corinthians 15:57).

We do not understand the significance of “It is finished.” We’re still waiting for God to deliver us, provide for us, change us, heal us. But as Jesus’ arms were spread open wide on that cross, He was offering to us the greatest gift we could ever receive – all that He is and all that He has. He freely gave Himself up for us, an atoning sacrifice (I John 2:2). Now it’s up to us to receive all that He offers to us.

All God asks of us is to love and obey Him. He even gives us what we need to do that. We love Him because He first loved us (I John 4:19). He puts His love into our hearts so that we can love Him and others. We show our love for God when we obey Him (John 14:23). He gives us all the help and strength we need to obey. God won’t ask us to do anything He doesn’t enable us to do.

Why do we walk around so defeated when “It is finished”? May we receive this great gift that God offers to us on this Resurrection Sunday. It is the Grace of God that will take us to the finish line.