It Was 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 (NIV).

Even in His death, Jesus was in control. He "gave up" His spirit; it wasn't taken from Him. It was His timing, His strategy, His victory. Jesus was and is King; He told Pilate: "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me" (John 18:37). Jesus could have called for twelve legions of angels to fight for Him; but if He did, "...how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54). Prophecy was fulfilled; the law was fulfilled. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). People ask, "How could Good Friday be called "good" when the Savior of the world was put to death?" Here's how: The temple curtain, that separated us from God, was torn in two, top to bottom; we became children of God Almighty and we can now share in an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, just like Jesus did, thanks to Christ's victory on the cross. It was finished! Not by Romans, not by Jews, but by Jesus Christ.