"It is finished!"

John 19:30

Jesus frequently said a great deal with just a few words.  "Tetelestai" is the champion of them all.  Tetelestai –– "It is finished!" –– is the perfect form of a Greek verb meaning "to finish" or "to bring to an end."  The word was used in the ancient world in three very distinct life circumstances.

First, it was a banking term.  It appeared on receipts and contracts. Think of days past before computers when the banker stamped your loan paper "PAID IN FULL" in bright red letters.  Your debt was paid!  You don't owe anything!   That's tetelestai. Christ announced from the cross for all to hear that our sin debt against God, our treason from the Garden of Eden, had just been PAID IN FULL with the bright red blood of the Lamb of God.

Second, it was a judicial term. Think of a criminal who deserved the full weight and punishment of the law.  Usually the sentence would be completed and then the criminal would be set free.  Christ announced from the cross for all to hear that the sentence of all guilty sinners for the sins of the world had instead been served in full by the sinless Son of God.  

Third, it was a military term. Think of King David returning from a battle in the ancient world. The people of Israel would line the streets crying, "Glory to the King of Israel!" What were they celebrating?  VICTORY.  The battle had been won and the victory belonged to the King's people.  Christ announced from the cross for all to hear that a great battle had just been waged under cover of darkness in the middle of the day.  VICTORY over sin, death, and the great deceiver Satan had been won for all believers by the KING of KINGS. 

We will never realize all that happened while God's only Son hung on that cross in shame and agony for our sakes.  But we don't need to understand it all. We probably couldn't put it into words if we did.  Relax –– The response God requires is thanksgiving, adoration, and praise.  If we simply whisper,  "Tetelestai," Jesus will receive the love and gratitude that is overwhelming our hearts as we remember. We don't need words. The greatest example of love was offered on that cross by Jesus for us to both see and to hear. (Tetelestai is pronounced Te-TEL'-es-tie.)

Now we have another reason to respond to Easter with wonder and awe.

Thank you, Jesus.