Sunday 9 December 2012

Finished


So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. – John 19.30


It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Whenever I read this passage of scripture this song by the Gaithers is the first thing that comes to mind. This verse is one of the most encouraging passages possible. Long before these words were said and for centuries since religion has told men that they have to ‘do’ in order to please God. Jesus said it is done; there is no more to do.

Satan will always try to mock what Christ did by telling us that it was not enough. If we could be saved by keeping the Law or doing good works Paul tells us that Jesus would have died for nothing.

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.

Or as the amazing new hymn ‘The Power of the Cross’ puts it -

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

I am grateful every day for the words ‘it is finished’ because if it depended on me and trying to do something more I would certainly never, ever make it. 

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