Bible Passage: John 19

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Jesus’ final word “τελέω” is the cry of victory.

He had finished the eternal purpose of the cross.

He paid in full the debt we righteously owe to God.

Without Jesus’ final act we would be at a loss.

At some point before He died,

Before the veil was torn in two,

Before He cried out it is finished,

An awesome transaction was pursued.

God the Father laid upon the Son our sin:

Sin deserving of wrath beyond what we can take.

He bore it in Himself perfectly,

Totally satisfying the wrath of God for our sake.

As horrible as the physical suffering of Jesus was,

This spiritual suffering—the act of being judged—

It was what Jesus dreaded about the cross.

Yet He willingly went in our stead and held no grudge.

This was the cup—the cup of God’s righteous wrath—

That He trembled at drinking.

On the cross He drank the cup of the Father’s fury.

He did it so we could forgo the suffering.

Despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3-5),

He had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.

Wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities;

By His striped we are healed and we have hope for tomorrow.

Bowing His head:

This wasn’t hanging the head in defeat.

This speaks of a peaceful act,

Like lying down on a pillow to sleep.

When He gave up His spirit,

It was by His will.

No one took Jesus’ life from Him;

For He was God still.

Death has no righteous hold over the Son of God,

Because He is sinless.

He only stood in the place of sinners.

So He could not die unless He gave up His spirit.

He took the nails for me;

The nails that should have been mine to bear;

And He paid it all.

This is the story that I wanted to share.

Reference: Blue Letter Bible—Study Guide for John 19 by David Guzik.

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