John 19:28-37: a reflection

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.”

As Jesus hangs on the cross, having borne all, he speaks his final words before he dies: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished! Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It is finished, Jesus declares: not merely that his life was ending, but that his work was accomplished, complete. The work he came to do, to bear our sin and make atonement, was finished, done, brought to completion. There was nothing left to add; the saving work was accomplished, and Jesus declared it finished.

Notice the declaration: It is finished. Jesus does not say, I am finished, as one merely dying; he says, It is finished, the work is complete. The work of salvation, of bearing our sin, of making atonement, of accomplishing all that was needed for our redemption, was finished, done, complete. Nothing remained to be added; Christ had accomplished it all. The saving work was not partial, needing our contribution to complete it; it was finished by Christ, whole and complete. It is finished: the work of our salvation, accomplished.

That declaration is worth resting in, for it means the work of our salvation is finished, complete, needing nothing added by us. We can imagine that we must add something to Christ's work, contribute our own efforts to complete our salvation; but Christ declared, It is finished. The work of our salvation is complete, accomplished by Christ, needing nothing added by us. Do not try to add to what Christ has finished, as though your efforts could complete or improve his finished work; it is finished, whole and complete. Rest in the finished work of Christ, who accomplished all that was needed for your salvation and declared, It is finished, rather than trying to add your own contribution to what he has completed; for Christ has finished the work of your salvation, and there is nothing left for you to add, but only to receive and rest in what he has accomplished, once for all.

Lord Jesus, as you hang on the cross, having borne all, you speak your final words before you die: when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished! Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It is finished, you declare: not merely that your life was ending, but that your work was accomplished, complete. The work you came to do, to bear our sin and make atonement, was finished, done. There was nothing left to add; the saving work was accomplished, and you declared it finished. Show me the declaration: It is finished. You do not say, I am finished, as one merely dying; you say, It is finished, the work is complete. The work of salvation, of bearing our sin, of making atonement, was finished, done, complete. Nothing remained to be added; you had accomplished it all. The saving work was not partial, needing my contribution to complete it; it was finished by you, whole and complete. Let me rest in that declaration, for it means the work of my salvation is finished, complete, needing nothing added by me. I can imagine that I must add something to your work, contribute my own efforts to complete my salvation; but you declared, It is finished. The work of my salvation is complete, accomplished by you. Keep me from trying to add to what you have finished, as though my efforts could complete or improve your finished work; it is finished. Help me rest in your finished work, Lord, who accomplished all that was needed for my salvation and declared, It is finished, rather than trying to add my own contribution.