My staff at work have come to expect my request to hear the end of a story before they launch into a long explanation for something that may or may not be significant. I make clear that I will listen to the story if they first succinctly share what happened. This has become a standard that even my board members expect of us. It makes us more effective in getting to the point and not drifting. Everything in the Bible is significant and mustn’t be abbreviated; however, it is beneficial never to lose sight of Scriptures that God wants us to live by. For example, John 3:16 is a foundational Scripture for all true Christians, and it sets the context for all that follows in the life of Jesus. Sadly, this Scripture has been widely messaged in greeting cards and billboards by mainstream “Christianity,” thus trivializing this amazing gift from God.
So many in the world also consider the end of Jesus Christ’s human life as He died on the cross at the end of the story. This brings me to the point of this Q&A: how should true Christians discern the meaning of John 19:30? This Scripture captures a moment of terrible pain and human suffering for Jesus. He had been beaten, tortured and nailed to the cross for our sins. Then comes the pivotal moment in John 19:30 (New International Version throughout): “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” While some may use these words to justify that all that had come before the birth of Jesus Christ was no longer valid, true Christians must see this verse as the embodiment of Scripture and prophecy, and the beginning of all that is still to come. The Greek word tetelestai literally means, it is finished, or it has been accomplished, as in a contract. This usage aligns with the Hebrew word Shalem, which denotes reconciliation or wholeness. Jesus was therefore stating that that part of the Work which the Father had sent Him to do had been accomplished, thus setting the stage for the Lord and Master of the soon-coming Kingdom of God.
Let us look to the book of John to initiate our deeper consideration. In John 1: 1-4 we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” We know that Jesus was sent by the Father for a purpose; to be a sacrifice, the Lamb of God, for the sins and transgressions of humankind over past generations and for those to come. It was not the pointless death that many of the Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders of the day thought it would be. It was the fulfillment of Scripture, as we see in John 1:29: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
John the Baptist was made aware by God that he would know and recognize Jesus by the presence of the Spirit that would come down from heaven and remain on Jesus, and as John responded in verse 34: “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” Jesus was beginning His ministry and He knew what lay ahead, but it was not the end of the story that He was preparing for, but the preparation for His future kingdom.
In Isaiah 9:6, we see this wonderful prophecy unveiled: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” This was reinforced by the words of the prophet Micah, who lived during the same period as Isaiah—the 8th century B.C. Consider his words in Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”
In Luke 2:11, we see the further embodiment of God’s promise: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” The angels who came among the shepherds rejoiced in proclaiming this news. The birth of the Christ, the Savior, was a moment of great joy. This joy would soon be tempered by the words of Jesus Himself soberly stating the plan the Father had for Him in Luke 9:22: “And he said: ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Jesus prophesied a great future and a place in the Kingdom for His followers, but made clear that sacrifice was required. We see this in John 12:23-24: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Continuing this theme in verses 27 and 28, we read: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
So again, the words of Jesus captured for us in John 19:30, “It is finished,” do not signify a sad ending to the life of the Son of God, but the assurance that He will return to set up His Kingdom on earth. Jesus Himself addressed this for us as we just read in John 12:27. We honor His sacrifice for us by obeying Him. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God tells us that those who honor Him, He will honor, but those who despise Him with their thoughts and actions will likewise be disdained.
There was a time, prior to my calling and conversion, when I read John 19:30 with great sadness and misunderstanding. However, now I rejoice in His gift and look forward to the glory of the Kingdom and the new Jerusalem. John 19:30 was truly a new beginning for those who are called and honor the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let’s be certain to be counted worthy of His gift!
Lead Writer: Frank W. Bruno