Context No. 2516 of 4322 · John

John 19:28-37: in context

28After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty!” 29Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him; 33but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. 34However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. 36For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.” 37Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.”

John records the last moments at the cross with unusual precision. Knowing all was now accomplished, Jesus says, I thirst, and after receiving the sour wine, he speaks one word that the Greek renders as a single term: it is finished. Then he bows his head and gives up his spirit. Soldiers come to hasten death by breaking legs, but finding him already dead, they do not break his; instead one pierces his side, and blood and water flow.

It is finished. This is not the sigh of a man saying I am finished in defeat; it is the announcement of a work completed. What Jesus came to do, the whole labor of redemption, is done, accomplished, paid in full. He does not die with tasks left undone; he dies declaring the mission fulfilled. Everything that our salvation required, he has now finished. That word cuts against the deep human instinct to keep adding to our own rescue, to feel we must complete what Christ has completed. He said it is finished, and meant it.

Do I live as though my salvation is finished, accomplished by Christ, or do I keep striving to complete what he already declared done?

Sources

John 19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished! Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28: Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I am thirsty!
John 19:34: However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.