“[Jesus] said, “It is finished!” – John 19:30

Are you or do you know of someone who is a ‘perfectionist,’ who never seems to finish a task until it is ‘perfect’?

Some people accuse me of being one. 

Well, I believe that God is a perfectionist too.

Whenever He created something new in Genesis, the Bible says, “God saw that it was good.”

But on the sixth day, the Bible says; “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Then later, God said; “It is not good that the man should be alone.”

Since creation, the perfect God has been at work trying to make things better in this world.

Throughout the Old Testament, God tried different things to make humanity perfect like Him, to no avail.

He brought the Law of Moses, the prophets, the sacrifices etc, nothing seemed to satisfy Him.

But in our meditation today, our Lord Jesus declares; “It is finished!”

In the original languages, the Hebrew root for the word ‘finished’ denotes perfection in the sense that a condition or action is “complete.”

It also has connections with the idea of being at peace or making peace.

The basic meaning of this word is that of “being complete” or “finished,” with nothing more expected or intended.

In the Bible, perfection is primarily attributed to God.

By declaring that it was “finished,” Christ was saying that the work God had started in Genesis and which Christ had finally consummated on the Cross was now deficient in nothing; not marred by any shortcomings, defects or inadequacies. 

There is nothing more to add to what He accomplished because the Father was satisfied that it was sufficient.

You cannot add anything to it without spoiling it.

On the Cross at Golgotha everything concerning you was finished! Hallelujah!

Indeed, the Greek word denotes the idea of bringing to an end or being fulfilled in the sense of completing or perfecting.

Earlier in His prayer in John 17:4, Jesus said; “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work, which You have given Me to do.”

So when Jesus said; “It is finished” on the Cross, He was not doing it out of exhaustion or agony; it was a shout of triumph!

Earlier, in verse 28, the Bible says that Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said it is finished!

Every aspect of the Father’s will had been satisfied, every prophecy of Scripture had been fulfilled.

Jesus had accomplished what heaven had agreed on since the beginning of time.

The purpose for which the Father sent His Son on earth had been fulfilled.

Redemption for the sins of the world had been secured.

Finally, Satan’s judgment and downfall was a fact.  It was mission accomplished!

The process of paying for our freedom and the eventual redemption of mankind had been completed.

There is nothing more that could be added.

That’s why Hebrews 1:3 and 8:1 say that Christ “sat down”; it indicates that His work of paying the hefty price for saving mankind was finalized.

On the Cross at Golgotha everything concerning you was finished! Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank You for the finished work to save my soul. Rather than seeking approval from You because of my ‘good works,’ help me to believe in finished work of my Lord so I can do all the works of God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!