“It Is Finished” [Matt's Messages] ~ Matt Mitchell

“It Is Finished”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

November 17, 2024 :: John 19:17-42

I have good and terrible news for you this morning. And this is it:

An innocent man was murdered.

And that sounds terrible, and it is. But it is also good for you and me.

You know whom I am talking about. This whole church is about Him.

It’s Jesus.

We’re drawing nearer, nearer to Him and His precious bleeding side. His back is bleeding because He’s been scourged.

The last few weeks, we’ve read about our Lord Jesus being betrayed, arrested, interrogated, slapped around, mocked, denied, rejected, judged, tried, convicted, and sentenced to execution. Execution of the most unspeakably horrible kind–Roman crucifixion.

Even though the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, could find no basis for a charge against Jesus, he still handed Him over to be crucified.

An innocent man was killed by the authorities. And that’s is good news for you and me.

We’re studying the part of the Gospel that we often focus on during a different holiday season than this one. But it is completely appropriate to focus on it now during this holiday season because, as we’re going to see, this is why Jesus came in the first place, at the first Christmas, and this is what we have the most reason for which to be thankful.

These last moments of His life and His death and His burial. This is why He came, and this is why His last words were (v.30), “It is finished.” That’s our title for today. “It is finished!”

In Greek, “tetelestai.” “It is completed.” Or “It is accomplished.”

Jesus didn’t say, “I am finished.” These are not words of despair, though I know that’s what would be on my lips! His are words of victory even as Jesus was killed as an innocent man. “It Is Finished.”

This morning, I want us to see just what was finished in those final moments before His death and the first few moments after His death and to reflect together on what good news that is for us today. We sometimes call these things “Good Friday.” Every good reason we have here to be thankful.

Starting with this. I have four points this morning, and here’s the first one.

#1. JESUS HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED THE TRUE KING.

Let’s start where Keagan kicked us off. In verse 17.

“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others–one on each side and Jesus in the middle” (vv.17-18).

It’s amazing to me how little the gospelwriters describe the crucifixion for us.

There are is very little description in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or here in John about what crucifixion was like. Did you ever notice that? It’s almost matter-of-fact.

I think that one of the reasons for that is that everybody who read the Gospels when they first came out, knew what crucifixion was. You didn’t have to explain it in all of it gruesome details.

Another reason is so that we don’t get to glory in the gruesome. It is possible to take a sick pleasure in bloody gore even when talking about our Lord.

But I also think that one of the reasons why the gospelwriters say so little about what it was like is that it is nearly too terrible for words. They just couldn’t bring themselves to talk too much about what was done to our Lord!

He had to carry His own cross. Remember, His back and shoulders are torn up from the scourging. Now, He has to pick up probably the horizontal beam across His shoulders and carry it out of the city limits to “Skull Hill.”

That’s where they liked do to these crucifixions. There were probably permanent vertical stakes there to mount these beams and these men nailed to them.

John says, “Here they crucified him, and with him two others–one on each side and Jesus in the middle” (v.18).

That means they nailed Him to these pieces of wood and hung him from those poles in the air. “Lifted up.” He was “lifted up.”

And his ankles were nailed, too. And His knees were bent. So that he push up on the pole to breathe a little. And then when He got tired He would sag down and start turning blue. And then He’d push up some more. We invented the word “excruciating” to describe this kind of pain and suffering. It’s got the “cruc...” word sound in there of crucifixion, cross-killing.

And He’s not alone. He’s got actual bad guys on either side of Him. They are not innocent, but He’s dying with them.

It’s hard to talk about. It’s terrible. There’s nothing right about it.

And, yet, it’s good. And we should be so thankful for it.

Here’s one reason, as He was dying, He was being proclaimed the true king of the world. Look at verse 19.

“Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written’” (vv.19-22).

Pilate was a weak little man with a lot of power. We saw that last week as the Jews manipulated him into executing Jesus.

But he did get in this one shot. Kind of a practical joke on his Jewish pests. He put up this placard over the head of Jesus that proclaimed Him as the king of Jews. Now, Pilate didn’t mean it. If anything, it was a list of Jesus’ crimes. Here’s why this man is up there on that cross! Sarcasm, dark gallows humor.

But it sure bothered the Jews! They wanted that sign revised. They were rejecting Jesus as their king. And Pilate said, “No way. It stays how I said it.”

But you and I know that it was true. Jesus was the Messiah, the promised King of Israel. And we’ve seen how He acted like a king all the way through this trial. His shoulders back, His head held high. It felt like He was in charge of His own trial. And they were the ones really arrested, really interrogated, really judged and found wanting.

He was the true king!

And notice that it was universally proclaimed.

Pilate whipped out His Google Translate App and made sure that everybody who passed by knew what it said.

Aramaic. That was the local dialect spoken by the Hebrews in that place.

Latin. That was the official language of the Roman empire. All official documents had to be in Latin.

And Greek. That was the international language that everybody spoke and had in common. The “lingua franca,” as we say. Like English functions in so many parts of the world.

Anybody who could read, knew what that said.

“JESUS OF NAZARTEH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

And that’s true! And you and I should recognize the Kingship of Jesus over ourselves and proclaim it to the world.

Let me ask you a question. Do we live like Jesus is our true King? What was the last thing you did because King Jesus told you to do it and not because you already felt like it? What was the last thing you did because King Jesus commanded it of you and not because you already felt like doing it?

Now, of course, it’s best when we want to do what the King tells us to do. But when there is a difference between my desire, and our Lord’s commands, which one wins?

Like for example, what Jesus says to do with our finances? With our mouths (which extends to our phones)? With our relationships? Jesus commands us to forgive as He has forgiven us. Is He our true King? Do we act like it?

Pilate was joking that Jesus was the king, but He is. Sometimes we say Jesus is the king but act like we are.

The truth will come out. When Jesus was dying, the truth was being broadcast right there above His head.

Number two. Here is what was finished and that we can be thankful for today:

#2. JESUS HAS FULFILLED THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES.

Look at verse 23.

“When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.”

Yes, they took His clothes. When you were crucified, you were left with nothing. And it was the privilege of the four soldiers on this execution squad to get to take the victim’s things.

Jesus didn’t have much. He had no money. Just the clothes on His back. And one guy took the cloak off His back, one guy took His belt, one guy took His sandals, and the other guy got Jesus’ hat.

That just left His “tunic” which was under those other things and went from neck to knees. It was woven in one piece, so the most valuable piece of clothes He had and worth a lot more in one piece than torn into strips.

And the soldiers are like, “I’ll flip you for it.” Verse 24.

“‘Let's not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let's decide by lot who will get it.’ This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, ‘They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.’ So this is what the soldiers did.”

Did you get that? The worst thing ever is happening. Jesus is struggling to breathe while probably bleeding out. And below Him, these guys are playing dice for His clothes.

It’s terrible! And yet, it’s not outside of God’s plan. It’s inside of God’s plan.

In fact, it was prophesied! These Romans executioners probably never read Psalm 22. King David wrote it 1000 years before this moment. But here are they are doing it!

John says, “This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled...”

Nothing stops Jesus from fulfilling all of the marks of the Messiah. Everything promised in the Old Testament will come true through Jesus. Even the stuff that doesn’t seem possible! Like the Messiah dying and coming back to life!

So that whenever you read a promise in the Scriptures, you can take it to the bank. You and I don’t ever have to worry that Jesus won’t fulfill all of the promises of Scripture.

We’re coming into the Advent season when the Church has traditionally thought deeply about how all of the ancient scriptures of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. I think our youth group is going to start an advent Bible study tonight. If you are a teen and haven’t yet been coming to the Youth Group, this is a great night to get started.

In verse 25, we find that there are a number of women standing near the cross. And they are grieving, with good reason.

I’m glad that John tells us about this. One of those women is Jesus’ mother. Look at verse 25.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

I think that’s three women named Mary. It was a popular name. We’ll learn more about this Mary Magdalene next week, Lord-willing.

But we know some things about Jesus’ mother Mary already from chapter 2 of this book. Remember the wedding at Cana? How she wanted Jesus to help the groom out when the wine ran low?

Well, now her baby boy is being killed before her eyes.

And Jesus sees her and has compassion on her. Verse 26.

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (vv.26-27).

I love that little detail. This little adoption (running the both directions mother to son and son to mother) to especially make sure that His mom was taken care of. Remember, “the disciples whom [Jesus] loved” is probably John the guy writing this gospel. He was tasked with caring for Mary after Jesus died.

What amazes me is how Jesus can be thinking about anybody else at this moment! I get a headcold, and all I can think about is me, me, me, me. If I have a tummy ache, I have a hard time thinking about my wife much less my neighbors. If I were nailed to a cross, I wouldn’t be thinking about Mary and John!

But Jesus’ mind is on His people. Jesus’ heart is caring for those who are in His heart. And you know that’s more than John and Mary! He was taking care of you me. On the Cross, Jesus was arranging for our new family, too.

And He’s making it all happen. Jesus is intentionally making all this come together. Even as He dies. Especially as He dies! Look at verse 28.

“Later, knowing that all was now completed [same root word for “finished,”] and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”

He knows what He’s doing! He knows He’s bringing this whole thing to completion. He knows He’s landing the plane.

He knows that He is fulfilling ancient Scripture like Psalm 69, verse 21 and Psalm 22, verse 15.

That’s why He says, “I am thirsty.” He is thirsty! But He’s saying it here and now to fulfill ancient Scripture. The Messiah was going to thirst. And so they bring Him a drink. Verse 29.

“A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.”

Now, I’ve always thought that was compassion. They had a little pity on Him. But it’s also possible that this was to get a little more suffering out Him. Keep the victim going for a little bit longer so that we can watch Him die a little bit longer. Prolong the pain.

But Jesus has other plans. He’s used that little bit of moisture to loosen his lips and His tongue so that He can yell out His famous last word:

“Tetelestai!”

Look at verse 30.

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

King to the end! He decides exactly when He is going to die. Until this moment, His head was unbowed. But now He bows His head and willingly gives up His spirit to His Father. And before He did that He said, “It is finished.”

#3. JESUS HAS COMPLETED HIS SAVING MISSION.

How many times has He said in the Gospel of John that the Father has sent the Son? He’s been on a rescue mission all this time. Reveal the Father. Show the Father. Make the Father known. And save those who believe.

And now, Jesus says, “Check! “Mission accomplished. I’ve done it. I’ve completed the work. I’m declaring victory. It is finished!”

Just a few hours before this, Jesus taught His followers our memory verse. John 16:33.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

And here’s the moment when He did just that! “It is finished.”

An innocent man was murdered at that moment, and I’m so glad!

Because He was choosing it and using it to save us.

History tells us that this word "tetelestai" was often written on a business document or a receipt to indicate that a bill had been paid in full. There was no more payment required. Like that red stamp we put on a bill today. "Paid in Full."

"Tetelestai!" Jesus was saying that He had paid it all. That we don’t have to save ourselves or add to our salvation. That He had accomplished it all for us on our behalf.

We just have to receive it as the free gift it is! “Tetelestai”

Have you received it? Have you put your faith in what Jesus did and what Jesus did alone to save you? He’s done it all! He’s paid it all. It is finished! And you put your trust in His saving work, in His saving mission? If you have not, I invite you to do so right here and right now!

Some people have the idea that Jesus’ death only gets us so far. And we have to take it from there. His death was necessary but not sufficient. They sing the song, “Jesus paid it some....”

But we know that Jesus is not just the true king and the true fulfillment of all of the ancient scriptures, but the true sacrifice that is all-sufficient to pay for all our sins, past, present and future.

He is the true Lamb of God! Who has declared, “It is finished!”

And then He died.

Jesus flat-lined. His heart stopped beating. His brain stopped working. He turned blue, then white. His body began to cool. He was dead.

It was terrible. His mother saw Him die. His beloved disciple saw Him die.

The hero of the story isn’t supposed to die!

Unless the hero dies saving the people He loves.

“It is finished.”

Is He really dead? It’s the job of the execution squad to make sure. They had to verify their kills or they would be in major trouble. Look at verse 31.

“Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath [Passover Sabbath!]. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.”

Here they go again with their hypocrisy. Wouldn’t want to break the law of Moses by having an executed man still hanging out there in public on the Sabbath, especially if that executed man was the Messiah! So they petition Pilate to hurry things along. If they break their legs, then they can’t push up and they suffocate faster.

Normally, the Romans would just let them hang there for days. Even days after they died, to send a message. “See what happens if you fight with Rome. Want to end up like this guy?"

But Pilate knows that Jesus was innocent. And he agrees, probably out of a kind of mercy to let them break Jesus’ legs. [I can’t believe I have to say that.] Verse 32.

“The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” (vv.32-34). He didn’t flinch. He didn’t jerk. No involuntary nervous system reaction. Instead, the spear poked the heart and fluid around the pericardium came out with the blood. The cleansing water and cleansing blood of Lamb.

He was dead. He was fully human, and He was fully dead. And John raises his hand to solemnly swear to it in a court of law. Verse 35.

“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.”

And you know what happens if you believe? You get life in Jesus’ name!

John says that this, too, was a fulfillment of ancient scripture. Look at verse 36.

“These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’”

Psalm 34, verse 20. Zechariah chapter 12, verse 11. Even while He’s dead, Jesus is fulfilling prophecy! He was the perfect Lamb of God without blemish or defect.

“[He] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).

The only thing left to do is bury Him. But who is going to do that? Mary can’t do that. Not on her on. She’s not up to that. Will John do it? Who will step forward and claim this corpse? You could get into a lot of trouble by identifying with this man. They just killed Him as a traitor to the nation and to the greater empire. Who wants to be known as His follower?

There is a guy named “Joe.” And a guy named “Nick.” Look at verse 38.

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night” (vv.38-39a).

This is big. I remember when I first saw this about twenty five years ago. At that moment Joe and Nick stepped out into the light. They went public as followers of Jesus Christ. Joseph already believed, but he was keeping it a secret. He hadn’t voted against Jesus’ death that night. But now, he’s asking for the body. Nicodemus had asked some big questions back in chapter 3. Remember “Nick at Night?” I think he was pretty hostile to Jesus back then. But something has changed. He’s now on board. And he’s going public.

Here’s our fourth and last point this morning:

#4. JESUS HAS ACTIVATED HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.

Even though He’s dead, He’s inspiring these guys to be bold!

And I love that because I want to be bold, too. We’re not supposed to be secret agents for Jesus. We are supposed to be faithful followers.

That’s part of what it means to be baptized. Looks like we’re going to have some more baptisms next month. If you have not yet gone public with your faith in Jesus and told the world that you are His disciple, why not? No time like the present!

Joe and Nick went public at this moment when Jesus was hanging there dead. Certainly you and I can go public when Jesus is alive again?!

I think the reason why they do this, is that they are convinced that Jesus is worth it. They came to believe that Jesus truly was the king. The placard of verse 19 was true. Look at what they did to show it. Verse 39.

“Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

How many pounds of spices? Does anybody know what that was in the Greek and Roman system? It says that it was 100 “litra.”

Anybody remember how many “litra” Mary of Bethany’s nard was?

Less than a week before this, Lazarus’ sister Mary had anointed Jesus with some pure nard. Remember that? Remember how many litra it was?

It was 1 litra. Now, that was expensive stuff. Pure spike nard. Extravagant all by itself. Maybe this stuff was much less pure and less exotic.

But there are 100 litra here. 75 pounds of myrrh and aloe to hide the smell of the decaying corpse. 75 pounds of myrrh and aloe to speak of the worth of the subject being spiced. Nicodemus must have had servants to carry all of that spice. 75 pounds! The great Rabbi Gamaliel was once perfumed at his burial with 80 litrai. This was 100 litrai! This was an anointing fit for royalty!

And His grave was a rich man’s grave. Every indication was that it was supposed to be Joseph’s grave. It was in garden near Golgotha. And it had just recently been dug out of the rock. It was ready for Joseph to die, and it was nearby, and the sun was going down, so they took the body there and buried it in that tomb. Another important garden in less than twenty four hours!

Even in His death, Jesus was activating His faithful followers.

Are we activated? Are we acting in public like we believe that Jesus is the true king? That Jesus has fulfilled all the ancient scriptures. And that Jesus has completed His Father’s mission? If not, what’s stopping us?

“It” might be finished, but we should just be getting started!

Because we have everything to be thankful for. An innocent man was murdered, and it’s terrible. And it’s the best news in the world.

***