Lake Eufaula Christian Church
While dying on the cross Jesus says, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing.” He tells the repentant thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” To His own mother He says, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to His disciple “Here is your mother.” Then, towards the very end He lcries out, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”
Those first words from the cross were about forgiveness, salvation, providing relationship, and abandonment. While obediently taking on the wrath and punishment that our sins deserved, this same Person whose voice calmed storms and raised people from the dead —the same Man who had never sinned— took on all our sins to reconcile us to God.
In the most final moments of His hanging on the most torturous execution device devised by man, “Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, ‘It is finished!’ Then He bowed his head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19: 28-30) “It is finished” is in one of scripture’s most important verses. Translated from the 1st century Greek word, tetelestai, it means “accomplished, done, paid in full.”
As we read those words, we need to ask “What was finished?” Jesus certainly was not, for he would rise again in three days—and He knew it. The cross was not the end of Christ. It was only the beginning of His glory.
What truly was finished was the ultimate power of sin, death, despair, and hopelessness. Those were defeated on the cross. His finished work defeated the grave and gave us new life for all eternity. “It is finished” was a triumphant cry of victory.
Because Jesus died and rose again, three things can be true for us. Our past can be forgiven, our present can be empowered, and our future can be assured. “Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13b-14) Our sins were nailed to Jesus’s cross with Him, and God cancelled charges against us and forgave all our sins.
Our present can be empowered. When we try to face life only with our own power and find we’re powerless over whatever we’re facing, we need to remember that the counselor Jesus sent to His disciples was also sent to us. The Holy Spirit is within us, waiting to be our guide. Our future can be assured because Jesus broke “the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) The Bible promises that Jesus wants to protect and carry your soul for eternity. But it doesn’t just happen by default. You have to choose Him. We at LECC invites anyone who doesn’t know Jesus to visit us and learn why He deserves our worship. The last words from His mouth, “It is finished” were all about triumph. We celebrate that triumph not just on Easter but every Sunday at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, with small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night classes.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
