What did Jesus mean when He said 'It is finished'?

Question: "What did Jesus mean when He said 'It is finished'?"

Answer: Of the last sayings of Christ on the cross, none is more important or more poignant than His very last utterance, “It is finished.” Found only in the Gospel of John, the Greek word translated “it is finished” is tetelestai, an accounting term that means “paid in full.” When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring the debt owed to His Father was wiped away completely and forever. Not that Jesus wiped away any debt that He owed to the Father; rather, Jesus eliminated the debt owed by mankind—the debt of sin.

Just prior to His arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, asking the Father to glorify Him, just as Jesus had glorified the Father on earth, having “finished the work you have given me to do” (John 17:4). The work Jesus was sent to do was to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10), to provide atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe in Him (Romans 3:23-25), and to reconcile sinful men to a holy God. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). None other but God in the flesh could accomplish such a task.

Also completed was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah. From Genesis to Malachi, there are over 300 specific prophecies detailing the coming of the Anointed One, all fulfilled by Jesus. From the “seed” who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, to the prediction of the “messenger” of the Lord (John the Baptist) who would “prepare the way” for the Messiah, all prophecies of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death were fulfilled and finished at the cross.

Although the redemption of mankind is the most important finished task, many other things were finished at the cross. The sufferings Jesus endured while on the earth, and especially in His last hours, were at last over. God’s will for Jesus was accomplished in His perfect obedience to the Father (John 5:30; 6:38). Most importantly, the power of sin and Satan were finished. No longer would mankind have to suffer the “flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). By raising the “shield of faith” in the One who completed the work of redemption and salvation, we can, by faith, live as new creations in Christ. Jesus’ finished work on the cross was the beginning of new life for all who were once “dead in trespasses and sins” but who are now made “alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1, 5).

Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/it-is-finished.html

Got Questions Ministries - GotQuestions.org

Global Effort to Free Pastor Saeed

#SaveSaeed: "The idea is simple. The more people taking about Pastor Saeed and calling for his release means the more international media, governments, and world leaders are willing to put pressure on Iran for his release. It is the same idea that led to the release of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran through Tweet for Youcef." -ACLJ

According to a story by Matthew Clark for the ACLJ, award-winning musicians, Christian radio stations, and concerned citizens all across America and around the world are trying to get #SaveSaeed trending on Twitter and encourage people to sign the petition at  www.SaveSaeed.org.

ACLJ said Ricky Skaggs, TobyMac, Bart Millard (Mercy Me), Kevin Max (DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline), Steven Curtis Chapman, Skillet, Rhett Walker Band, Air1 Radio, and thousands of others are helping to #SaveSaeed.

ACLJ said this is an easy way to help save the life of a persecuted pastor.

The ACLJ said, "Tweet the hashtag #SaveSaeed and urge your followers to sign the petition at www.SaveSaeed.org. Share this blog with your friends on Facebook to encourage them to join this effort."

ACLJ said the advice is simple and can make an enormous difference in the life of a man whose only "crime" is choosing to follow Christ in an oppressive Islamic regime.

ACLJ concluded, "Tweet to #SaveSaeed today."

GFA - Suicide Stopped by Radio

Lakshmi just wanted to die. Her life no longer had purpose or enjoyment. 

She was also very sick. The treatments she went through were useless for curing her. And no amount of medicine could strengthen her weak heart or alleviate her pain. 

Filled with despair, Lakshmi decided to end her life. But at this crucial time, she happened to tune in to a Gospel for Asia radio broadcast. It felt as if the person speaking was able to meet her right where she was, and the truths he shared from the Scriptures comforted her heart. 

That day, Lakshmi began to see that her life could have meaning. As the Lord spoke to her heart, she received Christ as her Savior and committed her life to Him. And to her amazement, the Lord reached down and healed not only her spiritual heart, but her physical heart as well. 

Today in a South Indian village, a woman who was once planning her suicide is instead worshiping the living God. And it all started with the voice she heard on the radio. Please pray for her continued growth in the faith. 

Lakshmi’s life is one of thousands in Asia that are being transformed through GFA’s evangelistic radio broadcasts, aired daily in 92 languages. To learn more about this powerful tool and how YOU can reach precious men and women like Lakshmi through your gifts and prayers, please click here.