By Jeff Cranston

“When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’”
– John 19:30

One of the greatest words ever uttered in human history was said in Christ’s sixth statement from the Cross: Tetelestai! It is finished!  

Theologian A.W. Pink writes: “This was not the despairing cry of a helpless martyr; it was not an expression of satisfaction that the termination of his sufferings was now reached; it was not the last gasp of a worn-out life. No, this was the declaration on the part of the Divine Redeemer that all for which He came from heaven to earth to do, was now done; that all that was needed to reveal the full character of God had now been accomplished; that all that was required by the law before sinners could be saved had now been performed; that the full price of our redemption was now paid.”

That is the message of the cross: The work of salvation is completed, “It is finished.” What does this mean for us?

Since Jesus paid it all, there is nothing more that needs to be done.

The great evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, said he heard a man say it took him 42 years to learn three things that can be understood in less than 10 seconds:

1. There's nothing I can do to earn my salvation.

2. God doesn't require me to do anything.

3. Jesus did it all.

Salvation is not a do-it-yourself project or even a 50-50 arrangement where you do your part and Jesus does His. Jesus has done it all so that you don’t have to. Some of you may be trying to clean yourself up to make yourself more presentable to God. May I be blunt? Stop performing!

Your acceptance is not based upon anything you do but on what has already been done for you. No degree of personal reformation, church attendance, baptism, or good works will get you any closer to God. Sin is only forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. Since He paid it all, you don’t have to!

The earthly work of Jesus is finished, but ours continues on.

Once we receive Jesus Christ into our lives, we’re responsible for taking the message of His completed work to all people. We’re to tell those in our community, in our county, in our country, and on the continents. Who can you talk to about Jesus today?

You never have to be afraid.

When O. Henry, the American writer of short stories was dying, his final words were, “Have someone turn up the lights—I don’t want to go home in the dark.”  

You never need to fear that, my friend, for Jesus Christ, the light of the world, has promised to shed abroad in your heart His light when you believe in Him. Because Jesus cried, “It is finished,” your sin debt has been canceled. Since Jesus paid it all, you don’t have to.

It. Is. Finished!