The text this evening for our sermon series, Words from the Cross… About the Cross, comes from St. John’s Gospel, the nineteenth chapter:
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Thus far the text.
Dear friends in Christ,
Here we are, nearing the end of Lent, and leading into Holy Week, we arrive at the crux of the whole Passion narrative, the last of Christ’s words, the most important declaration ever made: It is finished.
And what is it that is finished? Christ’s life? Assuredly. The crucifixion? Absolutely. But is there something more? Yes. When Christ says, “It is finished,” He’s not just talking about Himself. He’s talking about everything.
What do I mean? Remember that Christ, the man who is dying and dead on the cross of Calvary, is God, the very same God that has been willing and active in His creation from the very beginning. From before time, God had a plan in action to redeem His sinful creation. You see, it wasn’t very long that man was on the planet and we fell into sin. Did God create mankind as a personal, sinless creation? Of course He did. But to think that God did not know that His own creation would disown Him, forget His own words that He spoke, is to limit the power of God. God knows everything!
So, before He even created mankind, God had a plan: to send His Son into the world to redeem the world. What does this mean? God’s own Son, the begotten One from eternity, the second person of the Trinity, would take on human flesh in the womb of a virgin, Mary, and would live a sinless, selfless life for His creation. Christ would obey God perfectly. He would fulfill the whole Law, He would do everything that was required, and in His death, that death that we are baptized into, we would find that Christ’s perfection, His sinlessness, is granted to us. It’s given to us.
The most amazing thing is that God has been telling us all about His plan from the very beginning. When Jesus says, “It is finished,” He’s talking about everything, everything, that’s ever been prophesied, everything that’s ever been foretold, everything that’s been promised, everything that He’s done. Everything!
Let’s start at the beginning. In Genesis, Christ shows Himself in the prophecy of the seed of woman, a seed that would be the progeny of man and that that seed, that coming man, the promised one would be the person who crushes the head of the serpent, who defeats sin, death, and the devil. In Christ, it is finished.
In Exodus, Christ is shown to us in the Passover Lamb, the Lamb who is slain, whose blood is shed and covers the house, whose blood protects us from the Angel of Death, who would slay us and from whom there is no other protection. In Christ, it is finished.
In Leviticus, Christ is shown to be the true High Priest, the one who intercedes for us before the courtroom of God, declaring the worshippers of God to be innocent of all transgression for the blood of the Lamb covers them fully. In Christ, it is finished.
In Numbers, Christ appears to us as the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, guiding us as we sojourn through this life, and watching over and protecting us in the dark mysteries and dangers of the night. In Christ, it is finished.
In Deuteronomy, we are told that a prophet like Moses and greater than Moses will appear to us, a prophet who will tell us the Word of God and who will make for us cities of refuge, of protection, so that we need not fear the terrors of the night. In Christ, it is finished.
In Joshua, we see Christ as the true captain of all God’s armies. All the angels obey Him. He leads His people into unknown places, fighting on the front lines and taking all the danger and harm that is intended for us. In Christ, it is finished.
In Judges, we see that Christ will be the Great Judge and Lawgiver. He is the one who will rule from the gate of God’s protected city, Jerusalem, the city of peace. He is the one who will decide the fate of His people, He is the one who will fight for His people, He is the one who would die in the place of His people in order to save and rescue them from danger. In Christ, it is finished.
In Ruth, we see Christ in Boaz, the Kinsman Redeemer, who will be a relative of ours, who is able to return to us property that we have lost, that we no longer have a claim to. In Christ, it is finished.
In First and Second Samuel, we see Christ as the Prophet of the Lord, the one who seeks after the Lord with all His heart, who always loves the Law of God, who never does injustice to those who are in His midst. In Christ, it is finished.
In First and Second Kings and First and Second Chronicles, we see Christ as the reigning King, the one who will rule righteously and with all wisdom. Christ is the King promised to us, a better King than David and Solomon. In Christ, it is finished.
In Ezra, Christ is the Faithful Scribe, forever giving us the Word of the Lord, the one who not only records the Word God would have Him give but who is the actual and literal Word of God. In Christ, it is finished.
In Nehemiah, Christ is the Rebuilder of the Walls, the one who builds up the walls of salvation, the one who builds His Church, against which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail. In Christ, it is finished.
In Esther, Christ is our Mordecai, our relative who tells us that, while we were yet sinful and enemies of God, He has come for such a time as this. In Christ, it is finished.
In Job, Christ is the Dayspring from On High, who comes to secure for us all good things and gives us blessings beyond all measure: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. In Christ, it is finished.
In the Psalms, we see Christ as the Lord who is our Shepherd, the one who leaves the 99 for the sake of the one, who leads us beside still waters, who lays us down in green pastures, who prepares a feast of His own body and blood before us in the presence of our enemies. In Christ, it is finished.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Christ is the Wisdom of God, fighting against folly, against the Devil and all his ways. Christ serves us as our wisdom, the only wise thing in this world or the next. In Christ, it is finished.
In the Song of Solomon, He is the Bridegroom, who desires His lover, the Church, in intimate ways only marriage can begin to describe. In Christ, it is finished.
In Isaiah, Christ is the suffering servant, the one who is stricken, smitten, and afflicted for us and for our transgressions and the iniquity of us all is laid upon Him. In Christ, it is finished.
In Jeremiah and Lamentations, Christ is the Weeping Prophet, the one who cries out for His people before the Lord, the one who longs to take us under His wings as a hen protects her young. In Christ, it is finished.
In Ezekiel, Christ is the Son of Man, the one who is prophesied to rule of high but who condescends to be with us in order to suffer as we suffer. In Christ, it is finished.
In Daniel, He is the one who comes in the clouds of heaven, who utterly destroys the kingdoms of this world, who lays out as His footstool the princes and principalities, and all will see Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. In Christ, it is finished.
In Hosea, He is the Faithful Husband, who, no matter how many times His wife, the Church, prostitutes herself out to foreign husbands, foreign gods, false idols, comes back to her and cleans her up, cleansing her from all unrighteousness. In Christ, it is finished.
In Joel, He is the Baptizer, the one who washes us clean, giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit, who brings salvation to all He touches. In Christ, it is finished.
In Amos, He is the one who bears our burdens. He takes on our sin, our guilt, our shame, our unrighteousness and trades them out for His sinlessness, His right standing in God’s eyes, His goodness, His righteousness. In Christ, it is finished.
In Obadiah, Christ is the Mighty Savior, the only one who is able to save, for only He has the strength to endure the punishment meant for all of us. In Christ, it is finished.
In Jonah, He is the Forgiving and Merciful God, who relents from His punishment and shows mercy to those whom He has declared His Word. He is the one who leads us to repentance. In Christ, it is finished.
In Micah, He is the Messenger whose feet are beautiful, for He is the one who bears and delivers the Word of God to God’s people. In Christ, it is finished.
In Nahum, Christ is the Avenger, the one who seeks after the one who has caused God’s people pain and trouble, the one who destroys sin, death, and the devil. In Christ, it is finished.
In Habbakuk, He is the Great Evangelist, who cries to us to revive the Word in our own ears for the benefit of the Lord. In Christ, it is finished.
In Zephaniah, He is the Restorer, who brings God’s wandering remnant home to be with Himself forever and ever. In Christ, it is finished.
In Haggai, He is the Cleansing Fountain, in whose water we are restored to righteousness and all is made new and sparkling clean. In Christ, it is finished.
In Zechariah, He is the Pierced Son, who blood sets us free from all sin and uncleanness. In Christ, it is finished.
And in Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, He is the Son of Righteousness, whose way is foretold by the prophet crying in the wilderness, who will turn the hearts of children to their fathers and restore every good thing. In Christ, it is finished.
All of the Old Testament pointed to the cross and all of the New Testament points back to it. It is finished. You see, in these three words of Christ, “It is finished,” we find that Jesus has come to save us, to fulfill all foretold things, to take what is His, and to deliver sinful people from their sin. Christ comes for sinners. He comes to live a sinless life in their place. He comes to die a horrific and punishing death in their place. And He comes to be resurrected, the firstborn of the dead, to give to His people the promise of eternal life with Him.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, comes for you and for me, we who have committed egregious sins in the eyes of the Lord. We who were sinners are now declared innocent of all guilt. We who were sinners are now saved from our sins because of Christ. On Christ was the punishment that brought us peace. On Christ was the chastisement of God, the punishment for all sin. On Christ was the burden of sinlessness and obedience, the benefit of which He freely gives to you.
It is finished, my friends. There is nothing for us to do. We trust the Lord, we trust His sacrifice, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our faith is in Christ Jesus, who has died to give us life. That death, that horrific and painful death into which we are baptized, we are given the benefit of. We are given forgiveness because Christ has earned it. And now, on the cross, it is all finished. Life, death, resurrection. Christ’s work is done. Everything, everything, is done. He has earned it all. It is finished, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Now may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord! Amen.
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