The Finished Work of the Cross

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage
John 19:23-42

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30 (NKJV)

At the center of our faith is the Cross. Ground Zero for our relationship with God is this Roman implement of cruel death. The Cross represents God's undying desire to REDEEM. The Cross is the picture of God's love in action forgiving, cleansing, and accepting sinners.

We could talk much about the meaning of the Cross. Such a study is worthy of our highest efforts to better understand what God has done for us in Christ. There are many powerful facets to this miraculous event. On the Cross, Jesus is the last Adam, He is the second man, He is the love of the Father, He is our penal substitute, He is the ransom for sin, He is our conquering King!

John, the beloved disciple, records for us a powerful glimpse into this great redemption. He tells us that Jesus' final words were, "It is finished." As death closed upon Him and He finally accepted the anesthetic work of the sour wine, He knew that a GREAT WORK had been accomplished. Something had ended. And something else began.

Many consider the preaching of the Cross to be laden with calls for self-sacrifice, for dying to self, and for giving it all up for Jesus. The Cross is more than death to self. The Cross is where condemnation stops. The Cross is where Satan loses his power. The Cross is where sin no longer has control. The Cross is where Jesus says, "It is finished." The Cross is the picture of the completed work of redemption. There is nothing we can add to the Cross. We can only accept the pure work of redeeming grace. "IT IS FINISHED!"