“IT IS FINISHED" Jesus said in John 19:30. “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17b-18
In a terrible time of frustrating turmoil, shifting instability, and religious deception, how refreshing it is to fasten our eyes upon our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and see His abiding immutability. The Bible offers to man a resurrected Savior who in a marvelous display of His omnipotent glory, came forth from the sealed tomb in sovereign triumph!
Our lovely Lord gave the thunderous shout of victory upon the cross of Calvary, "It is finished," meaning that the glorious plan of salvation was completed. They were words of victory, glory and assurance, worthily uttered by the Master in His defeat of death, Satan and evil. They offer salvation to sinful man by His great grace. Look at the scene.
The Character of Christ
Pilate, a compromising coward, had to confess, "I find no fault in Him" (John 19:4). He asked, "What evil has he done?" (Luke 23:22), and declared, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matt. 27:24).
The centurion gave worshipful honor to the Lord Jesus, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54).
The Lord was without sin (Heb. 4:15), without guile (1 Pet. 2:22), and He knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21). Our Lord's holy character was indeed impeccable.
The Crimes of the Crowd
The mobbish crowd demonstrated the deep-seated depravity of the heart. Read Matthew 26 and 27. They demanded, "Destroy Jesus, put Him to death." Jesus was bound and delivered, betrayed, sold for thirty pieces of silver, mocked, spit upon and savagely beaten. “As many were astonished at you—his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.” (Isaiah 52:14)
His own disciples forsook Him. Corrupt men of the crowd smote Him and mocked Him. They railed on Him and reviled Him. They blindfolded Him and blasphemed Him. And finally, they crucified Him. With senseless behavior of diabolical choice, the jeering crowd released Barabbas, a murderer, instead of the holy, sinless Jesus. What infinite love He had for us, to endure so much at the hands of wicked men!
Let us never forget, however, we who are saved once belonged to the sinful crowd. If it were not for the marvelous grace of God, we would still be floundering around in the awful darkness of the world's miserable night. Yes, our very own sins helped to nail Jesus, the Son of God, to the cross of Calvary. Can you read Isaiah 53 with dry eyes and un-hurting hearts?
The Conquering Christ
The words of Scripture echo the triumphant shout, "I am alive for evermore" (Rev. 1:19). Glory! We have a living Savior. He defeated the devil and defied death in overwhelming conquest. In life, in death, in resurrection, in ascension and exaltation, Christ conquered. He is the Victor!
Thanks be to God--our Savior is the all-sufficient Sovereign and the Almighty Conqueror of the ages! Let us march forth in victory to proclaim and present the living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to dying men until He leads us through the gates of glory to our eternal Home.
Comments