RUSSELL SANDERS
6-21-2020
IT IS FINISHED
Jesus’ last words as He hung upon the cross (John 19:30) were
“It is finished,”
then he died.
So, what was finished? It has a two-fold meaning as does much scripture. The most immediate one was that His life was ended by death. His physical life was over. But there is a far greater meaning to it.
Jehovah had a plan from the day Adam fell in sin to redeem mankind to Himself, and restore the fallen race, and defeat the evil works of Satan. Jesus, The Anointed One (Christ) was sent to complete that plan. “It is finished” meant his mission was completed. He had done everything He came to do according to the Father’s plan. It is a completed work.
Jesus has already done all that He came to do. It is now up to us to carry on the work of the kingdom of heaven here in our present earthly realm. He told His disciples (John 14:12) that because He is returning back to His Father in heaven, that it is now up to them to do all the works that He did here on earth and even greater works. He instructed them that if they needed any help with it, just ask the Father in His (Jesus’) name and He would do it (John 14:13-14). Just what is it that we are to do as believers upon Him?
First and foremost, it is to love everyone with the divine love imparted into us by God (agape love). That will manifest within us as the “fruit of the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:22-23) love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control).
It also means that we are to do or perform the very works that He did while He was here. What did He do? He healed the sick; cast out demons; made the lame to walk; caused the blind to see; and the deaf to hear. He raised the dead. He said we, that is you and I, are to do these things in His name and even greater things than those. His work is completed. It is now up to us.
Do you do any of these things? Have you ever done even one of them? If not, why not? In Acts 1:8 He said we would be given that power. It was imparted upon His followers on Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. That Holy Ghost outpouring was an anointing of power to do those very works.
Trust God for that anointing. Ask Him to help you to do those works. Then, take a bold step of faith to act upon it.
God rewards obedience-- it brings results.
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