“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is
finished’, and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
Salvation was completed at the cross. It was proclaimed made known in the resurrection. When we use the word “finished”, it tends to point to either
a failure as in “I’m finished with you!” or a success, such as, It’s completed!
What do these words of Jesus mean? What has been “finished”, and what does that
mean?
One word is clear enough. “Is” is definite. When Jesus says
something, He makes it so. He does it for even bigger things like forgiveness,
commanding the weather, healing the sick. So, whatever is finished, really is
done.
Does Jesus mean His life on earth is finished? No, because
we know that His death was not the end of everything. He rose to new life. In the same way, we do
not have to remain stuck in Good Friday, but can live in the resurrection life
of Easter morning.
Abide with us, Lord,
for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your
whole Church. Abide with us in the end of the day, in the end of our life, in
the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with You holy
Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the
night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair
when death shall come. Abide with us and with all the faithful through time and
eternity.
Collect for Easter Eve LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1980 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld ©WELS
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