I wrote a series of devotion for my church on the Seven Last Words of Jesus for this Lent season and sharing them here. I am happy to discuss the answers to the questions in the comments below. So feel free to engage me in a dialogue. =)
Sixth of Seven Last Words of Jesus
John 19:30 (NASB): “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
(From the Greek “Tetelestai” which is also translated “It is accomplished”, or “paid in full”.)
Theme: TRIUMPH
Read: John 19:30.
- What was finished?
- What does Jesus’ action in bowing His head and giving up His spirit tells you about His death? (Read John 10:11-18)
JESUS’ TEACHING AND APPLICATION
Read John 2:13-25; Mark 15:37-38.
As Singaporeans, we are familiar with the Malay word “habis”, meaning finished or the end. It carries a sense of resignation to undesirable outcomes. Yet Jesus’ declaration bears the meaning of mission accomplished. The veil of the temple was torn and made public the holy of holies that was forbidden to all people except the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The most important item in the holy of holies, the Ark of the Covenant which represented God’s throne on earth, was lost and not in the temple. The religious Jews probably will cry “habis” if they spoke Malay. The victory of Jesus is not apparent to all present at the scene.
- What significance and message do you see in the sign of the torn veil?
- What does the finished act of Christ on the cross mean to you personally? How has this changed your life?
REFLECTION & MEDITATION
Be still in the presence of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you the state of your “holy of holies” in your inner most being. It should not be a holy of holies without God on the throne. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you what are some of the things that you held on that hinder you from seeing the victory of Jesus in the many situations in your life. Let the power of Christ that overcome the cross and death fill you to live your life in His victory.
SONG OF MEDITATION
It is Finished https://youtu.be/RPQ_DK8gFbQ
There’s a line that is drawn through the ages
On that line stands an old rugged cross
On that cross, a battle is raging
To gain a man’s soul or it’s loss
On one side, march the forces of evil
All the demons, all the devils of hell
On the other, the angels of glory
And they meet on Golgotha’s hill
The earth shakes with the force of the conflict
And the sun refuses to shine
For there hangs God’s son, in the balance
And then through the darkness he cries
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
Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn’t know that the war had been won
Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
Had fought all the battles for me
And that victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free
