Today's Readings - 1 Chronicles 26-27, John 19:28–42, Psalm 75:1–6, Proverbs 15:20–22
Devotional
Three words. Simple words. But since the beginning of time, no more glorious words have ever been spoken. In English translations, it is three words. In the Greek translation that our New Testament is written in it is only one word. I do not know whether it is one word or more in the Aramaic that Jesus would have actually spoken on the cross. But those three English words, in whatever language they are spoken, changed everything. John 19:30 records them as the last words that Jesus spoke before he commended his spirit into the hands of the Father.
It is finished.
Since Adam and Eve chose sin over obedience in the Garden, the weight of sin had been growing. Some people, like Ahab, like Manasseh, like Herod, sinned heinously and boldly. Others have sinned in self-righteousness, keeping their sins inward, hidden deeply in their hearts. Some have lived such respectable lives that it is hard for other sinful humans to even believe they have a sinful nature. But we do. We all do. All have sinned. Even at the end of his life, Paul called himself "the chief of sinners." That weight of sin grew throughout time - bigger, heavier, uglier.
It had to be paid for. The holy God of heaven is not one who can wink at sin and say, "don't worry about it. His righteousness demands full payment for every sin ever committed, every violation of his law. And Romans 6:23 makes it clear what that payment is.
"The wages of sin is death."
Someone had to die for my sins, and yours. We faced an eternity separated from God under his judgment because of our waywardness. The debt must be paid. And that is exactly what Jesus was doing on the Cross that day. He was paying the price, paying the wages that our sins demanded. Jesus hung on the cross paying the eternal payment for my sins. Death. He was suffering all the wrath of God for all eternity against all the sins of all the world.
As Jesus was prepared for crucifixion, Jesus experienced the evil of man. But on the Cross, hanging there bearing the sins of the world and standing in our place, Jesus experienced as no man ever had to that point, the eternal wrath of God against sin.
The sun grew dark as Jesus hung there.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
There is an answer to the question. You. And me. Why? Because Jesus was in our place and he was experiencing our hell. He was there for us and experienced all the horrors of hell in the hours he hung there, the full weight of God's wrath for our sins poured out on the sinless Lamb.
And then, when it was done, he uttered the words. "It is finished." It's done. Your sins are paid for. Your atonement is complete. You are washed, cleansed, justified, redeemed, forgiven, and every other word you can imagine. Completely. Infinitely. Eternally. It is finished. Nothing else ever has to be done for you to be saved forever!
So, when we come to Christ in repentance and faith the debt is paid. Done. I can add nothing to my salvation. I can only believe.
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. It is finished. Jesus paid it all. It is finished. Mercy there is great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me. It is finished. Because Jesus spoke those words, because he paid for our sins, we are free.
Father, I am in awe of your grace and love, that you would punish your beloved Son for my sins. Why would you do that for a sinner like me? But you did, and I glory in Cross on which Jesus finished, completely, my eternal redemption.
Think and Pray
Take time to read the John 19 passage slowly and carefully. Christianity is rooted in the "old, old story" of Jesus. Take time today to think and pray through that passage.
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