John 19
October 7, 2022
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (v30)
In the Greek, the phrase, “it is finished,” is just one word: “tetelestai.” It’s my favorite word in any language - because it so succinctly captures the essence of Christ’s substitutionary atonement - paying the debt we could not (and would not) pay. It was a first century financial term that got stamped onto someone’s account when their debt had been paid in full. I imagine the rejoicing that resulted when “tetelestai” got stamped onto someone’s account. And Jesus declares that our spiritual account can be stamped with that word, too, if we will turn to and trust Him for this gift. No more debt collectors sent from Satan to make us feel guilty about what we’ve done and what we owe. It’s all been paid by Jesus: past, present and future sins - all paid - so that there is now only freedom and peace with God!
Lord Jesus, I praise You for finishing the work of redemption, for drinking down the last drop of the cup of God’s righteous wrath against sin - so that I could be debt-free. Grow in me a deeper awareness of the high price You paid - not just in the form of physical pain on the cross - but emotional alienation from the Father at the cross - so that I never take for granted the forgiveness that You obtained for me.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
