“IT IS FINISHED”

These THREE words in English were only ONE word in the original Greek and that word was, “TETELESTAI.” 

It means, “To bring to an end, to accomplish, to complete.” 

It was used in that day of a servant reporting back to his master.  In other words, what you gave me to do, I accomplished. 

It was used after running a race.  A person would cross the finish line and say, “It is finished.” 

It was most commonly used in paying bills. A bill would be stamped with that word meaning, "Paid in full.".

When Jesus uttered this, there was no precise subject for it.  The word “it” just kind of embodies the whole scope of redemption. 

One thing important to remember is, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m finished.”  It was not the end of Him but the beginning of a whole new chapter of life. It is the most triumphant cry in all of human history. 

It is in the perfect tense.  That is when something happened that still holds good.  Jesus cried out, “It is finished and it is forever finished.” In other words, “This work that I have done will hold good for eternity.” 

What was finished?

His suffering

His sacrifice

Jesus took my bankruptcy and covered it with His solvency.  Jesus didn’t just make the down payment and then make us make the installment payments the rest of our life.  Jesus paid it all. The wages of sin is death but Jesus paid the last cent of the wages of sin.

How do we know that the price was paid in full and that the Father accept it? We have self-satisfaction by self-substitution.  God satisfied Himself by substituting Himself.  I know that is complex but nevertheless true. The resurrection is the receipt for the payment…that God accepted it.  The father also accepted Jesus back in heaven.  

All of our sin is paid for.  Nobody needs to carry the guilt of sin.  We cannot add anything because it is paid in full.  All we do is believe, trust and rest in what he has done for us. In actuality I am stacking my eternal destiny on that one word. “TETELESTAI!”