John 19:28–30 (ESV)

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

• Today, we’re going to explore what Jesus meant—and why those three words change everything for us. If Jesus said ‘It is finished,’ then the question is—what exactly was finished?

#1) A PURPOSE FULFILLED (v.28)

John 19:28 (ESV)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

Psalm 22:14–15 (ESV)

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV)

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 4:12–13 (ESV)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Mark 15:23 (ESV)

And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

• Wine with myrrh was a drink used to induce altered states, historically used for pain relief or as an intoxicant.

Romans 5:3–5 (ESV)

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

#2) A PLAN REVEALED (v.29)

John 19:29 (ESV)

A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

Matthew 27:48 (ESV)

And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.

Psalm 69:21 (ESV)

They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

Exodus 12:22 (ESV)

Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin.

John 1:29 (ESV)

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

#3) A PAYMENT COMPLETED (V. 30)

John 19:30 (ESV)

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

• It is finished = tetelestai = to complete; to fulfill it completely; (In context) nothing remains undone.

Three ways Tetelestai was used:

A) Business Context

• For ancient receipts to indicate the literal debt has been paid in full.

B) Judicial Context

• When a sentenced was fully served.

C) Military Context

• Used when a battle had been won.
• Good News = evangelion (translated to gospel)
• Jewish tradition (4 cups of wine)
  • 1st Cup — Sanctification [before the meal]
  • 2nd Cup — Deliverance [during the meal]
  • 3rd Cup — Redemption (Cup of Blessing) [after the meal]
  • 4th Cup — Praise. concludes the Passover. [after the hymn]

• These 4 Cups represent the 4 expressions in Exodus 6:6-7
  • “I will bring you out”
  • “I will deliver you”
  • “I will redeem you”
  • “I will take you as my people”

John 19:28–30 (ESV)

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

When Jesus said on the cross… “It is finished.”… He was declaring:

1) THE DEBT OF YOUR SIN is fully paid!

2) THE JUDGMENT FOR YOUR SIN has been fully served.

3) THE WAR AGAINST SIN— death & Satan has been completely won in Christ!

CONCLUSION

Romans 6:10 (ESV)

For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

Here’s the Good News and what we can learn from the cross:

1) JESUS FINISHED IT

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Stop trying to earn what Jesus already paid for.

2) INVITED TO RECEIVE IT

Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

3) RESPOND TO IT

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

• You can rest assured that there’s Good News for us: He paid the debt of sin… By fully serving the sentence on the cross… And victoriously overcame death with His resurrection.
• If you accept the good news—the gospel— you too will overcome death and receive eternal life in Christ Jesus.

You don’t clean yourself up and then come to Jesus… You come to Jesus—and He cleans you up.

Jesus didn’t leave anything unfinished—so you don’t have to live unfinished.