Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS, USA

Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.

Jesus Christ was the only one who in a genuine sense of the words could cry “It is finished.” Incompleteness mars the works of all others. The pen falls from the writer’s hand, the song from the singer’s lips. One after another our lives are marked and marred by sin so that we do not complete or accomplish the things that we would. The same cannot be said of our Lord.

When our Lord cried “It is finished” He referred to His own immeasurable sufferings. His bodily sufferings were intense. The spitting, the hitting, and the scourging reflected their contempt and hatred of Him. The mocking, the ridiculing, and the stripping all must have cut deep into His holy heart. Then the crown of thorns that was thrust upon His head, the nails that were driven through His hands and His feet, as He was lifted up for us certainly brought more intense pain. Yet, the greatest of His sufferings were the sufferings of His soul. How heavy must have been that weight when He was bearing the sins of us all. How deep must have the darkness of loneliness through which He passed as our sin-bearer. He was forsaken for a moment that we might never be forsaken of God. He thirsted that we might never thirst again, but have a well of life-giving water ever springing up in us. Can we ever thank Him, or love Him even half enough because He suffered for us?

Second, when Jesus cried “It is finished” He referred to His purchase of our eternal redemption. To think that the Prince of Life could die is a marvel. However, to think that He would die for sinners such as us is marvelous grace. He was born as one of us to be capable of dying. As the Son of God He offered up a life of infinite worth and eternal value. He bore not only our punishment for our sins, but also our guilt. None other could have done what He did. He paid the price that God’s holiness and justice demanded. His sacrifice on Calvary was all-sufficient and final. No other sacrifice for sin will ever be needed. Nothing else is needed for our salvation. His atonement is complete and free to all who repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Third, when Jesus cried “It is finished” He referred to the fulfillment of scriptural prophecies concerning His death. All the Old Testament prophets pointed to the coming Redeemer. Multitudes of prophecies and types make Christ the central focus of the Old Testament revelation. He is the prophet like Moses, the beloved, rejected, and crowned son like Joseph; the priest like Aaron and Melchizedek, and the lamb sacrificed upon the altar. He is the willing offering like Isaac, the leader like Joshua, the King like David, and the wise counselor like Solomon. He is these and much more. He is pictured in the Ark of the Covenant, the sacrifice on the brazen altar, the lamb whose blood made propitiation for sin for sin upon the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. Moreover, He is the brazen serpent lifted up on a pole, the Passover lamb whose blood covered all the redeemed; He’s the scapegoat on whom our sins are lain, the Ark which was a shelter from the wrath of God, and the fulfiller of numerous other prophecies. Take Christ out of the Old Testament and it becomes revelation without any real destination, promise without fulfillment.

Fourth, when Christ cried “It is finished” He referred to His completion of the work which the Father had given Him to do during His first coming. He only could say “I always do the will of my Father in heaven”. What joy must have been His as He was the servant obedient even unto death (Phil. 2:7). He only could say “I have finished the work thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

Fifth, when Christ cried “It is finished” He referred to His victorious triumph over the forces of darkness. Back in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned God told them He would send a man who would crush the serpent’s head though he would bruise his heel (Gen 3:15). At Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ fought off the attacks of Satan which sought our Lord’s destruction and our eternal ruin. He triumphantly secured our eternal salvation so that Paul could now declare “Who is he that condemneth?” (Rom. 8:34). The obvious answer is no one. The Father has accepted His Son’s sacrifice. There is therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1). Redemption’s work is done; now salvation comes to man. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. “It is finished.”