Suncook United Methodist Church
April 20, 2011
Seven Last Words
It is finished
John 19:30
“It Is Finished!”
It is finished. . . it is finished. . . These words make me think of one of our daughters and a conversation I had with her last week. I was talking with my daughter Shyanne last week about her project for school. She was working on a poster and she thought she needed to have it done sooner than what it actually due by. . . and we all know how infrequently that happens with kids. . . and so she was bringing it to school and one of her friends told her that it wasn’t due for another week. Well. . . all the next week she had put in her planner that she had to complete the poster. . . because that is what was on the board. . . and each night she has happily explained. . . ”It is finished.” She was done. . . she had completed the assignment and now she can be overjoyed at having it done. I am sure that we all have had those times In our lives that we have been overjoyed about something being “finished.” It can give us a sense of accomplishment. We are happy that the task is done. We can “move on. . . ” so to speak! I can only imagine how Jesus must have felt from the cross. . .
Jesus had spent His time on earth ministering to others, healing the sick and giving sight to the blind. He came to teach a radical new way of living. When Jesus was hung on the cross, the people around Him thought that His ministry, His work on earth was done. They saw who they believed as the Messiah on that tree and thought their hope for salvation was gone. But they were wrong. Even from the cross He continued to minister and heal those around Him and prayed for others. Just because He was on the cross didn’t mean He was done with ministry. These are some of His last words from the cross. . . at the end of His ministry on earth. . . that made an everlasting impact on humanity. His biggest ministry on earth was when He said “it is finished” from the cross. At this point He was taking on the sins of “all who have fallen short of the grace of God”. . . this was the finale of His ministry. . . this was one of the most important pivotal points for you. . . for me. . . for all who believe. You see. . . this is what happened with Jesus’ “It is finished”. . . and what it mean for you and me:
• It is finished. . . the curtain is was torn from top to bottom. . . the curtain that separated us from God. . . no longer was access to the throne of grace through mere mortal men but through our High Priest, Jesus Christ
• It is finished. . . the gap that was formed by the First Adam was now bridged by the Second Adam. . . through His cross we have a renewed relationship with God
• It is finished. . . the tombs of sin and death are now open and new life is offered.
• It is finished. . . Jesus’ body was destroyed but now He lives on in each and every believer
• It is finished. . . Jesus went to the cross to conquer sin and death and on the third-day He did just that
• It is finished. . . loves work is done
• It is finished. . . Jesus’ purpose is now fulfilled. . . it is finished when Jesus says it’s finished not when man decrees
• It is finished. . . it is finished. . . praise God from whom all blessings flow
• It Is Finished!
Church. . . we have a responsibility to Jesus’ “it is finished.” You see. . . His ministry lives on through you and through me. As we journey in faith and love we are called for a purpose. We must follow that purpose and one day. . . when we are at the end of our journey. . . we too will say. . . “It is finished”
Amen?!
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edited February 6, 2016
Death, like any other man – v3
(editing version 2)
Edited December 15, 2013
death, like any other man – v2
April 23, 2011
death, like any other man
Father,
into your hands I commit my spirit
(Luke 23:46).
Luke
22:39-46
Mark
14:32-42
Matthew
26:36-56
Garden
of Gethsemane
Psalm
31
&
sermon by Reverend Jim Howard
including
discussion of Saint Faustina
&
Seven
Last Words Ecumenical Service
Father
forgive them, for they know not what they do
(Luke 23:34).
Truly,
I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43)
Woman,
behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).
My
God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
(Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
I
thirst
(John 19:28).
It is
finished
(John 19:30).
and
sermon: “It is Finished”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
April 20, 2011
Lent
All of my
poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for
usage. See all 40,960+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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