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IT IS FINISHED - John 1930
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For every person, there will come a last meal, a
last breath and, of course, a last statement. And
in many ways, what we say in the end is a real
insight into what we were in life, what we stood
for and indeed lived for. Generally, we die as we
have lived.
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2. I read about a man who had been very
successful in the restaurant business and had
established many restaurants around the United
States. When his life was almost over, as he was
on his deathbed with his family gathered nearby,
he gave his last whisper "Slice the ham thin!"
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• On Nov. 30, 1900, the last words of the famous
  writer Oscar Wilde were, "Either that wallpaper
  goes, or I do."
• b. Sometimes, people know they are giving their
  last words. Before he was to be hanged for spying
  on the British, the last words of American
  patriot Nathan Hale were "I only regret that I
  have but one life to lose for my country."

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c. And at other times, people don't know when
they will be giving their last words, such as
John F. Kennedy, who said, "That's obvious!" This
statement was made in response to Nellie
Connally, the wife of Texas Governor John
Connally, who had remarked to the president as
they traveled by motorcade through Dallas,
cheered by adoring throngs, "Mr. President, you
certainly can't say that Dallas doesn't love
you." Seconds later his life was cut short by
an assassin's bullets.
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• George Washington, (1732-1799)
• "It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid
  to go.
• Daniel Webster, (1782-1852) "I still
  live."
• John Quincy Adams, (1767-1848) "This is
  the last of earth! I am content."

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4. And death is no respecter of persons, even for
royalty. On her deathbed, Elizabeth I, Queen of
England, said, "All my possessions for a moment
of time." And Princess Diana, following that
horrific car accident in a Paris tunnel, was
heard to say, "My God, what happened?"
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5. History tells the story of the renowned
atheist Voltaire, who was one of the most
aggressive antagonists of Christianity. He wrote
many things to undermine the church, and once
said of Jesus Christ, "Curse the wretch. In 20
years, Christianity will be no more. My single
hand will destroy the edifice it took 12 apostles
to rear." Needless to say, Voltaire was less than
successful. And on his deathbed, a nurse who
attended him was reported to have said, "For all
the wealth in Europe, I would not see another
atheist die."
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The physician, waiting up with Voltaire at his
death, said that he cried out with utter
desperation, "I am abandoned by God and man. I
will give you half of what I am worth if you will
give me six months of life. Then I shall go to
hell and you will go with me, oh, Christ, oh,
Jesus Christ!" (His printing press printed more
Bibles than he ever destroyed by his words.)
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6. What a difference faith makes. The last words
of Stephen, who was being stoned to death, were,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ... Lord, do not
charge them with this sin." (Acts 759-60)
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(Transition) Now let's consider the most famous
and important "last words" ever uttered the
words of Jesus as He hung on the cross. I want to
focus on one statement in particular, for in it
we see Victory and not Defeat as sometimes
believed by may.
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Jesus made seven statements while hanging on the
Cross Father,
Forgive them, for they know not what they do
Luke 2334 today you shall be with me in
Paradise Luke 2343 Woman behold
your son Behold your mother John 1926,27 My
God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew
2746 I thirst John 1928 AND ----- It Is
Finished John 193
Finally Father, into your hands I commit my
Spirit - Luke 2346
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Jesus had been taken to be crucified on the
cross, and death by crucifixion was really death
by suffocation. It was extremely hard even to
breathe, much less speak. Add to this the fact
that He had been brutally scourged. The process
of scourging was barbaric. The prisoner was tied
to a post with his hands over his head, his body
taut. The whip had a short, wooden handle with
several leather thongs attached, each tipped with
sharp pieces of metal or bone. As the whip was
brought down on the prisoner, his muscles would
be lacerated, veins and arteries would be torn
open, and even the kidneys, spleen, or other
organs could be exposed and slashed.
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Then there was the crucifixion itself, which
would cause you to turn away in revulsion at the
sight of it. There has never been a movie or
painting I've seen that has even come close to
depicting what really happened when Jesus died
that is, until Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the
Christ." I don't know that any artist or
filmmaker could ever capture all that happened on
that day, but this film gives us a glimpse of the
incredible suffering Jesus went through for us.
Even Gibson has acknowledged that what actually
happened to Jesus in His scourging and
crucifixion was probably much worse than depicted
in his film.
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The one statement we are interested in this
Morning is found in John 1930. As we look at
the last words of Jesus, then, what do they tell
us about how Jesus dies? In verse 30, we read
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave
up his spirit.
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• II. What His Last Words Tell Us
• With all the Agony of the Cross, we see the Glory
  of the Cross, the Glory of Christ, and the Glory
  of what He Accomplished.
• Literally - In His Last Words WE SEE THE
  VICTORY not a Defeat. As some would believe or
  want us to believe.

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With all He suffered the only time He makes any
referral to it is when He makes the statement I
Thirst in John 1928.
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B. He fulfilled ALL PROPHECY WHICH SPOKE OF HIM
and his Mission. C. He gave eternal Life to
all by his Death since you have given him
authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to
all whom you have given him. John 172
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D. He brought ALL the Words of God to us For
I have given them the words that you gave me, and
they have received them and have come to know in
truth that I came from you and they have
believed that you sent me. John 178 Jesus
gave us the message from the Father That He came
from the Father to give man eternal life, that
that is the only truth, that Gods people through
the drawing of the Father believed in Jesus.
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E. He came to Make Atonement/Reconcilation
possible for all of Mankind Isaiah 5912 -
Romans 511. F. He came to bear OUR PUNISHMENT
FOR OUR SINS and to set THE EXAMPLE I PETER
221 25 318 G. He came to call His
People from Darkness and Lead them to Light, to
bring mercy to those who had no hope of Mercy
I PETER 29-10
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H. He came to pay a DEBT WE (I) COULD NOT PAY -
He became the APPEASMENT (PROPITIATION) of Gods
Justice (2)AND HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPITIATION
FOR OUR SINS AND NOT OURS ONLY BUT ALSO FOR THE
WHOLE WORLD. . (9)IN THIS LOVE OF GOD WAS
AMNIFESTED TOWARD US, THAT GOD HAS SENT HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
THROUGH HIM (10) IN THIS LOVE, NOT THAT WE LOVED
GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON TO BE
THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS.
I JOHN 22 49-10
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In the old days when a debt was paid it was
spindled meaning that it was now paid in full
it was finished. When Jesus was nailed to the
Cross His part was finished.
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Finished Paid in Full
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Hodge tells us in his book that the phrase used
here by Christ IT IS FINISHED -is One Greek
word/phrase - tetelestai. This is the greatest
single word ever said.
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"Tetelestai" doesnt translate simply, we have to
make a phrase out of it - "It is finished." But
still some of its power is lost in the
translation. In the Greek it implies that
something has come to an end, it has been
completed, perfected, accomplished in the full
and that something has consequences that will
endure on and on. "Tetelestai." The most
powerful single word of all of Jesus ministry. It
was also his last word. It was the word that
turned this apparent tragedy into a scene of
Victory that shook the earth, split rocks,
changed history, raised saints from the dead and
tore away the temple curtain that kept people out
of the Holy of Holies. "Tetelestai" the most
powerful word in history. Even more powerful than
the words of creation in Genesis chapter 1 where
God spoke and the universe came into existence.
This word could not simply be spoken. The son of
God had to die to speak it. peter wilkinson on 3
October, 2007
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Was this a cry of defeat, of frustration? Was
Jesus saying merely, that his earthly life was
over, ending in defeat?
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When we hear the word, we realize how little we
know. Only Jesus, with one word, could sum up
the entire plan of redemption! It will take all
of Eternity for us to grasp what our Salvation
means! Jesus is the only one who fully did what
God wants done! He said tetelestai. Jesus came
to do Gods will. Man who is lost in sin, now
has a Savior.
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WHEN JESUS SAID IT IS FINISHED, THIS WAS HIS
SHOUT OF TRIUMPH, THE FIRST PROCLAMATION OF THE
GOSPEL. THE SHOUT OF JESUS IS GOOD NEWS,
BECAUSE OF WHY HE DIES, FOR
YOU AND ME.
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As noted earlier For every person, there will
come a last meal, a last breath and, of course, a
last statement. And in many ways, what we say in
the end is a real insight into what we were in
life, what we stood for and indeed lived for.
Generally, we die as we have lived.
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Jesus died as He had lived, completing his
Mission here on the
Earth for You and Me. It is
Finished WHAT Will WE DO WITH WHAT HE GAVE
US?
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What MUST You Do to Be Saved?

• Hear The Word Of God Romans 1017
• Believe His Word Mark 1616, John 824
• Repent of your sins Luke 133, Acts
  238
• Confess your belief Romans 1010, Acts 837
• Be Baptized Mark 1616, Acts
  238 For the Remission of
  Your Sins Acts 2216 Galatians
  326, 27
• Live Faithfully
  Titus 211-14