As the Christian world commemorate and celebrate the death of our Lord and Saviour- Jesus Christ on the Cross over 2000 years ago. It is striking as always to mediate on His last words before He died: 'It is Finished!'
You may rightly think about it, and therefore inquisitively ask: What is finished?
"The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. The song had been sung. The blood had been poured. The sacrifice had been made. The sting of death had been removed. It was over. A cry of defeat? No, this is no cry of despair. It is a cry of completion. A cry of victory. A cry of fulfillment. Yes, even a cry of relief."- Max Lucado
It is finished with:
Eternal Condemnation & Separation from God
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.- John 3:14,18
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.- John 12:32-33
...by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God...because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,...free from accusation- Colossians 1:20-22
The Power of Sin & The Curse of the Law
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;- 1 Peter 2:24
When you were dead in your sins...God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.- Colossians 2:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.- Galatians 3:13
...without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.- Hebrews 9:22 (Amplified)
The Torment of Infirmities & Diseases
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,...by his wounds you have been healed.- 1 Peter 2:24
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,...he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.- Isaiah 53:4-5
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.- Matthew 8:17
The Devil, the Power & Fear of Death
We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying.- Hebrews 2:14-15 (Contemporary English Version)
Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb and the message of God. They were willing to give up their lives.- Revelations 12:11 (Contemporary English Version)
Thank You O Lord for your immesurable love for me & unquantifiable sacrifice on the cross. Indeed my life will never remain the same again, you have changed & transformed it forever by Your precious blood - The inestimable price paid for my total release, redemption, salvation, joy, peace.
Therefore rejoice and be glad this day and always for it is for freedom that Christ has set you free.
All Bible passages are taken from the New International Version, except where stated otherwise.
happy easter, akinola. thank you for all the encouragements. God bless.
Posted by: pia | Sunday, April 08, 2007 at 04:46 AM