Jesus FinishedBible Reading – John 19:30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. From where do we obtain our mental picture of Jesus? Is it from paintings or drawings we have seen? Or perhaps we have studied the Gospels. As we have done so we arrive at a mental picture of Christ Have you ever listened to a radio program and imagined what the voice on the radio’s face looked like? Usuallly when we see the person our metal image of this person does not correspond to the way they actually look. Have you ever heard it said that person has a “face for radio”? If you are a Christian, chances are you have a face that you match up in your mind when you think about Jesus. I do not want to get into actual physical characteristics, because they are not important. But the other day, a news program featured a story about Jewish remains found that dated back to the time of Christ. By using these remains they felt confident that they were able to create a similar image to the way Jesus probably appeared. What if this skeleton was the Jewish version of the Elephant boy? I am going to give you two truths. First Truth: Whenever the secular world tries to submit an image of Christ it will always be less flattering, if at all, than the view Christians have of Jesus. Second Truth: When Christians paint a picture of Jesus he nearly always resembles their comfort level. Jesus conforms to their minds eye of Him. Do not get me wrong I think this is ok. Jesus is a personal Savior. He is all things to all people. This does not mean He is what ever we want Him to be though. It means He is ever available to supply our lives with all the things we really need Number one on that list is eternal life. Everything pretty much drops off after that. He is everything We TRULY need. Not EVERYTHING WE TRULY GREED!! How does the Bible describe Christ? Show me where it tells us the color of His eyes. Give me a scripture that tells me what color of hair Jesus had. You can’t. Why? Because it does not matter!! We are a fleshly society. Beauty may be skin deep and the inside of a person is all that should matter but we are not to anxious usually to search for inner beauty. Yet to really gain a vivid accurate image of Jesus we must search the inner beauty of the Gospels. The first strokes painted about Jesus are bright with promise: Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The light of heaven shining down on dark Bethlehem. Can you imagine? The heavenly radiance of the angelic choir singing, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Several years pass before the Bible tells us much more. Oh, once or twice, the Gospels paint an additional stroke here and there But for the most part the young Jesus remains unknown to the readers of the Gospels. Why is this? I believe that is because the Jesus we need is not a boy. He is not a young man. In fact, He is not an adult. The Jesus we need is God! It does not matter whether He had blue eyes or brown eyes. It does not matter whether He had brown hair or black hair. It does not matter whether He had longer hair or shorter hair. And most of all... I’m gonna rattle some cages here… Just remember…I love ya man!! Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brother Jay is imitating beer commercials!! That’s okay It will go along with all the other rumors out there about me ! It does not matter the color of Christ’s hair. It does not matter the color of Christ’s eyes. and..... It does not matter whether He had dark skin or light skin! You see the Christ we need is not the man preaching to the Jews. The one we need died on a cross! He is Teleo – Greek for finished, complete Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. The gospels introduce us to Jesus. They paint a picture with colors that are alive and full of hope. We see the radiant smile of a blind man who was given sight the joyful leaps of a lame man who was made to walk. We sense the excitement of the crowds. The multitudes of people who flocked to hear words unlike any they had ever heard before. Today multitudes flock to see pagan, drug cultured, rock stars. We see the multitudes that line the way, crying, Hosanna on what we know as Palm Sunday. Matthew 21:9: And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. This is a picture that makes you feel good. It makes you wish you were there! Then the unthinkable happens. The colors on the canvas are smeared together in darkness and confusion. The sky is blackened. Crimson blood stains the ground. Hardened soldiers gamble with indifference to the man who hangs on the cross above them. Christ is surrounded by His enemies and flanked on either side by two thieves. If this was a movie here is when we would be holding out hope. If this were a western, John and Peter would soon be seen riding over a hill and rescue Jesus from the bad guys! Jesus did not need a rescue! He had 12 legions of angels at his beck and call! Still we view this scene with Hope. Once before a voice from heaven was heard, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." God, His Father claimed Him then; maybe He will rescue Him now. We imagine expectantly as Jesus raises His head from off His chest. We envision looking upon His bruised and battered face. We see him moisten his lips with the cheap vinegar wine given him by the soldiers. Then we hear Him speak. We see the strain as Christ struggles to summon the remnants of his physical endurance for one final statement, "It is finished." A single word when spoken by Christ, "Tetelestai!" Other of the gospel writers tell us that this was spoken in a loud voice. It commanded attention of all that stood nearby. It broke into idle thoughts and interrupted hushed conversations. And as they wondered what it meant, Jesus bowed His head ... AND DIED. "Tetelestai - It is finished!" The word conveyed more than just a task completed. It also implied that all had been done that could be done. Whatever was happening on that cross was over. It was finished. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it. Further suffering would be pointless. Nothing else could be done. And so, Jesus died. But what did it mean? I. To His Disciples It Seemed A Word of DEFEAT. A. At least one disciple, John, was present at the cross (verse 26). He would carry a report back to the other disciples. Imagine their confusion as he related the events of the cross. Imagine as they try to understand Christ‘s last words...It is Finished. B. We also know what the outlook of the disciples was anything but optimistic. Read Luke 24:13-21 - Can you sense the bitterness in their voices? We put all our eggs in the wrong basket! We had big dreams and high hopes, but now they have all come to nothing. It was a silent, defeated group of disciples who listened to John's report. When he finished, nobody stirred. Can you just see Peter, shaking his head in dismay, saying, "That's it? That's all we get out of this? We left our homes and jobs for this? I should have stuck to fishing!" Have you ever doubted whether you were spinning your wheels trying to be a dedicatd Christian? "Tetelestai!" To the disciples, it was a word of defeat, as though they had gambled ... and lost. II. Satan Heard It As A Word of SURRENDER. A. Every step of the life of Christ involved a life and death struggle against Satan. Satan moved Herod to murder all the babies in and around Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the child Jesus. Satan taunted Christ at His temptation, daring Him to jump to His death from atop the temple. Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot and moved him to betray Christ to be crucified. B. The Scripture leaves us in no doubt as to Satan's estimation of the cross. Satan viewed the cross as his triumph and God's defeat. Jewish treachery sent Jesus to the cross. Roman soldiers drove the nails that held Him there. Ultimately, Satan took credit for crucifying "the Lord of Glory." 1Corinthians 2:7-8: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. When Jesus cried, "It is finished," Satan was convinced he had won. Later on the first DOH!! was heard! III. To GOD It Was A Word of ACCOMPLISHMENT. (verse 28) A All the prophecies had been fulfilled. B. All the demands of the Law had been met. – HUH??? Matthew 5:17-18: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. C. The wages of sin had been paid in full. Sin carries a price tag: death. The death of Christ was payment in full. D. Nothing more COULD BE DONE or WOULD BE REQUIRED to secure the salvation of sinners. Hebrews 10:11-12: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. For hundreds of years, rivers of blood had flowed from the altar of God - and yet the price of sin was never paid. The work of the Levitical priest was never done. Each day brought new sins and a fresh cry for blood! But what tens of thousands of animal sacrifices could not do Jesus accomplished with ONE SACRIFICE FOREVER. Though Michelangelo is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, he was known to be very temperamental. He would begin a piece, then abandon it in a fit of temper. Consequently, he left more works unfinished than he completed. In Florence, Italy, is a vast display of his uncompleted works. Jesus left nothing undone. He offers salvation as a FINISHED work. There is nothing left for you or I to do. Which brings us to an important question: What does His declaration mean to men and women today. IV. To The Unbeliever It Is A Word Of SALVATION. A. It means the end of your search for forgiveness The death of Jesus Christ provided forgiveness for all sin. No sin is unforgivable. No soul is beyond salvation. B. It means there is nothing you can do to save yourself. Salvation is a finished work. It is not a Do-It-Yourself project. Good deeds cannot earn forgiveness. Religious devotion, no matter how sincere, cannot pay for your sin. Salvation can only be obtained by receiving it as a gift from God to you. V. To The Christian It Is A Word of ASSURANCE. It means your salvation is secure. A. Because it is finished, it doesn't depend on you. The true child of God is not trying to be saved. He knows that everything has already been done! B. It means your acceptance is complete. Some Christians receive Christ as their Savior then spend the rest of their lives trying to get God to accept them. They are never sure where they stand with God. They try to perform better in hopes that God might smile in their direction. The words "It is finished" mean that I am not accepted by God because of what I do but because of what Jesus has done for me. Settle the issue of salvation. Receive Christ, and through Him, the forgiveness of your sins. Settle your doubts. Luke 2:8-16: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Isaiah 53:1-3: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Matthew 5:17-18: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Hebrews 10:11-12: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God Acts 13:38: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Back to Hope Chapel
| |
