Holy (Good) Friday - Devotions in Exile The Sixth Word of Christ from the Cross
Holy (Good) Friday - Devotions in Exile
The Sixth Word of Christ from the Cross
True God – 6th Word
John
19:30 So when Jesus had received the
sour wine, He said, "It is finished!"
And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Jesus was true man, He was suffering
on that cross, did He know what was going on? If you have any doubts, read these
words from his lips again. He knew that all was finished (all was accomplished, or completed is what the Greek word Τετέλεσται – Tetelestai – means). God’s plan
was completed! These words from Him show that although He was rue man, He was
also true God. He knew the plan of salvation, and the role His death had to
play in that.
In speaking this “word” (one Greek
word is translated, ‘it is finished’) just prior to His death, He shows that
the plan was completed. In Christ's death, it is finished. God's plan, first
prophesied in the Garden of Eden, is fulfilled. There is no more to do!
Yet, in certain Christian circles,
there is more attached to the life of the Christian than faith in this one
event. Some say that we must do certain things to secure our salvation, making
our place in God’s kingdom contingent upon each of us and doing our own part to
earn it. We need to be wary of these lies disguised as Christianity.
If
such had been the intentions of God, Christ would have proclaimed, "Ok,
I've done my part, now you each finish it." This was not the case, Christ
said, "It is finished!" There is nothing more to do, it has been
accomplished.
In fact, the very faith to believe in
Christ's atoning work for us, is a gift from God by the work of His Spirit. If
there were anything we could do, God would not have had to take on human flesh,
fulfill the Laws in that flesh, and then suffer and die on that cross in our stead. Leaving the remaining work of our salvation
in our own hands empties the cross of its power to save. It assumes that we can
perfect ourselves, for that is the only way other than faith in Christ, that
man can be saved. Christ was the only one to be perfect, we are not – nor can
we be. In fact, we cannot even believe these words, or trust the work of
Christ, by our own reason or strength.
This Word of Christ is the greatest
comfort, especially when we look at our own lives. Our lives are hollow and
pitiful, we have to proclaim with Paul that even when we know what is right to
do, we fail to do it…we fall short…we miss the mark! To call our life exactly
what it is, we are sinful and unclean!
Now see the words of Christ, "It
is finished!" His perfect life and the work of salvation in Him has come
to completion on the cross. You are baptized into Christ’s death. On the cross,
in the atoning sacrifice of the Son, in His bitter suffering and death, all
that was left to be done, and now it is finished. Your holiness and
righteousness, is now accomplished, it is finished.
Of course, you could be arrogant
enough to think that you have something to add to the equation, to help in your
salvation and righteousness. But then, that is why He died, to forgive you your
sin, even of pridefulness and self-justification.
Let this word of comfort bring peace
to you – It is finished.
When
questions and worries arise, let this Word of Christ be the final answer.
What
can I do to pay for my sins?
It is finished!
How
can I be sure of my salvation?
It is finished!
I’m
not sure if I’ve done enough to get into heaven!
It is finished!
Can
I be sure that MY sins are forgiven, I was truly evil?
It is finished!
PRAYER: Dear Savior, let us take comfort and always
remember your words from the cross, "It is finished!" Let us depend upon Your mercy and grace
rather than upon ourselves. Keep us
looking to the cross and seeing Your divine mercy to us. Amen.
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