3 Words

                                                                                            

Aloha Dearest Family,

               Words are used to communicate something to the hearer. However, many of the words we hear during our day sound an awful lot like just noise; sounding a lot like Charlie Brown’s teacher. But some words are full of meaning and sentiment. Just three words can convey so much. Just hearing the words, “I love you”, for example,  immediately gives us a sense of happiness and warmth.

                When it comes to the Bible, so much is conveyed in just a few words. In the Gospels for example, we might think about when Philip told Nathaniel, “Come and see” (John 1:46). Or maybe when Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). These words have tons of meaning, especially when we know the context of when they were spoken. But I think the three words that mean the most to me is when Jesus said from the cross, “It Is Finished”.

 

                “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)

 

After many hours of anguish, torture and pain, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the savior of the world, spoke these last three words before giving up his life. In truth, our vocabulary cannot fully convey the full depth and meaning of what his sacrifice truly meant, but the words, “It is finished”, came close. But what do these words mean?

                In one sense, it could mean that the cruel suffering that he had to endure was finally over. Or it could be referring to the work that His Father gave him to do on earth; he successfully completed it. But I think the meaning is even bigger than even this.

                At the time when the New Testament was written, the Roman Empire spoke mostly Greek. And many of the phrases used by the common people of the time, are also used in the Bible. One of these Greek phrases that was commonly used was, “it is finished”. Whenever a contract was transacted and completed, it was stamped “finished” or “paid in full”. This means that the parties listed in the contract had fulfilled their part of the contract and now it was completed or fulfilled.

So what was the contract that Jesus said was finished?

               

        The covenant of the law can be considered, more or less, like a contract. When God gave the law to Israel, He explained all the abundant blessings that He would shower upon them - IF they obeyed the law. God also listed the curses that they would experience if they DID NOT obey God’s Law. After explaining the terms of the covenant, the people said:

               

“…We will do everything the LORD has said…” (Exodus 19:8a)

 

They willingly entered into this “contract” with God. God would fulfill His part, but Israel had to fulfill their part as well. The law of Moses consisted of more than 613 laws covering every aspect of life. These included laws about, diet, clothing, servants, sex, as well as the required feasts and sacrifices. The laws involving the animal sacrifices were very important for they would cover the sins of the people, year after year. But these animal sacrifices could never really take away sin; it only covered them. In truth all of Israel’s sacrifices were just a “shadow” of the ultimate sacrifice that was coming - Jesus Christ.

               

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect….For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1 and 4)

               

The importance of the three words “it is finished” cannot be overstated. No other sacrifices were needed for his FINAL sacrifice took away all sin. His death COMPLETED and FINISHED the Covenant of the Law, rendering it “Paid in Full.” Christ was the end of the law administration.

               

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)

 

Jesus Christ completed the entire Law Covenant and opened up the way for a New Covenant; the Covenant of the Spirit. This is the covenant that we are a part of right now. We have been set free from sin and the penalty of sin and our righteousness is not based upon following rules and regulations, but is based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus paid it all.

 

             “…He takes away the first (the Old Covenant) that He may establish the second (the New Covenant). By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:9b and 10)

 

                        Love Always, Ray