It is Finished – (3 things)

• 1^st – Darkness covered the earth (3 points)… vs. 33-36
  • 1^st – From 12pm-3pm – darkness (of night) covered the whole Earth…
    • There has been much speculation on what caused the darkness – heavy clouds/eclipse
    • But it was not clouds or an eclipse of the sun – it was the death of light of the world…
    • John 8:12 – “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.’”
    • In the darkest hour in history – the Light of the World was extinguished…
    • Ironically, it was darkest – just before God gave us all the light of salvation
    • Times are often the most difficult in life – just before God does the most amazing work
    • I fear too often we give up – wear out – just before God does something incredible!
    • It is good to remember – it is always the darkest – just before the dawn…
  • 2^nd – In that dark hour Jesus cried – ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani’ (Aramaic)…
    • Palms 22:1 – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
    • First time in Eternity – the Father and the Son were separated – broken fellowship…
    • Jesus – who had never sinned – now bore every sin of ever person who ever lived…
    • The Father placed on Jesus – all the guilt – shame – and condemnation of the world…
    • The Father ‘forsook’ the Son – because He carried the sin of the whole world!
    • Sin separates – our sin separated the Son from the Father – because…
    •  I John 1:5 – “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
    • When we choose to sin – we are choosing to separate ourselves from God…
    • If a child does something wrong – something Dad or Mom told them not to…
    • They are not excited to see their parents – instead they avoid them – fearing judgment…
    • We do the same thing with God – rather than being excited to see Him – we hide…
    • Anything that has to do with God – reminds us of our sin – so we avoid them as well…
    • Sin keeps us from wanting to read our Bible – go to church – fellowship with believers…
    • Sin will keep us from fellowship/growing in the lord  – but the Lord keeps us from sin!
  • 3^rd – Calling for Elijah…
    • Some thought that Jesus was crying out for Elijah to save Him 
    • Mistaking the “Eli” as a shortened version of Elijah – rather than the Aramaic for “God”
    • One had compassion on Jesus’ suffering – gave him some wine on a sponge…
    • The rest objected – they wanted to see if Elijah would come and help…
    • But Jesus was not trusting in a religion or a man – He was trusting in God…
    • We all have the tendency to look to men – and men’s ideas for the answers to life…
      • It is easier to trust in someone I can see and hear – than trust in God by faith…
      • That why there are lots of religions – and lots of ideas about how to get to heaven…
      • But there is only one who can save – only one who can take away sin!
      • There is only one way to Heaven – by faith receive the free gift of salvation in Jesus!
    • Make no mistake about it – people are watching us to see if God is real…
      • We may not realize it – they may even be making fun of us – but they are watching…
      • Everyone is looking for the answer to life – and wonder if Jesus is that answer…
      • When we follow Jesus – praise God – when everything is going well – no biggie…
      • When we follow Jesus  – praise God – in the difficulties – people take notice!

• 2^nd – The Death of Jesus… (5 points) vs. 37
  • 1^st – About 3pm – Jesus said, ‘I thirst’ – John 19:28
    • Jesus thirst was a result of His physical condition…
    • Jesus’ scourging/crucifixion put Him into (hypo-volemic) shock – massive loss of blood
    • Leading up to Jesus’ death – the progression of this would have been:

1. His heart would race to pump blood that was not there…
2. He would collapse/faint – Matthew 27:31 – due to low blood pressure…
3. His kidneys would shut down to preserve body fluids…
4. Experiencing extreme thirst as the body desired to replenish lost fluids…
5. Rapid heartbeat causes fluid to gather in sack around the heart (pericardial effusion)
6. The eventual effect was heart failure – Jesus died of a broken heart…

• 2^nd – Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished said – John 19:30
  • ‘It is finished!’ – Tetelestai – Perfect/Passive/Indicative!
  • Jesus hadn’t come to heal people / make men rich / or tell us how to have better lives…
  • Jesus came to die – He came because we all destined for hell – because of our sin…
  • Through the cross – His work was done – sin was defeated – death had been overcome
  • *  I Corinthians 15:55, 57 – “O death, where is your victory? How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
  • So often we want to add to the finished work of the cross – believe in Jesus and…
  • Go to church / tithe / be good / baptism/ obey God’s commands  / ect…
  • Yet the work of salvation was completed a the cross – nothing else needed to be done…
  • When Jesus said  – it is finished – He meant it!
  • All we have to do is believe in the ‘finished’ work of Jesus – and we are saved!
• 3^rd – Jesus bowed His head – and sent away His spirit – Matthew 27:50
  • Romans and Jews did not kill Jesus – He gave up His life – He willingly laid it down…
  • John 10:18 – “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
  • And He had the power to take it back – and 3 days later He would…
• 4^th – Broken legs – John 19:31-33
  • The Sabbath started at sundown (Unleavened Bread) they wanted to end the crucifixion
  • They ordered all the legs of the victims to be broken – swift death by asphyxiation…
  • The two robbers had their legs broken – but Jesus was already dead…
  • So not one bone in His body was broken… fulfilling Psalm 22:17
• 5^th – Blood and Water – John 19:34-35
  • To verify Jesus was dead – a soldier pierced His side with a spear – blood and water…
  • Moses had sealed the Old Covenant with blood and water – Hebrews 9:19
  • Jesus now sealed the New Covenant – Grace – with His blood and water!
    • Jesus came as a man – lived as man – yet lived a perfect sinless life…
    • Jesus did what no one else could– fulfilled the righteous requirement of God’s Law…
    • Jesus – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin – Death – Romans 6:23…
    • In that moment Jesus condemned sin – defeated the death once and for all!
  • Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us Jesus’ righteousness!
    • * II Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
    • If we took a test in school – got an (F) – but the best student in the class – got an (A)
    • That student came to us and offered to change grades – take our (F) – give us an (A)
    • We failed the test of life – we got an (F) – Jesus got it all right – He got an (A)
    • He took our sin (F) and gave us His righteousness (A)
    • Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes/flaws…
    • He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect/flawless…
    • The Covenant of Grace – where God takes our sin – and gives us His righteousness
  • Fulfilling the words of the Prophet – Zachariah 12:10
    • The Jews had missed Jesus – they rejected the savior of the world…
    • But one day – they would look on the “one whom they pierced” and believe!
    • If you have family/friends who have not accepted Jesus as their savior…
    • Keep praying – one day by Jesus Grace – they will also look to Jesus and believe!

• 3^rd – Results of the death of Jesus… (3 points) vs. 38-41
  • 1^st – A Great Earthquake – Matthew 27:51-53
    • The Veil of the Temple was torn in two…
      • Temple was divided into 4 parts – Outer Court/Inner Court/Holiest/Holiest of All
        • The Outer court was for the Gentiles – those who did not believe – look from afar
        • The Inner court was where the alter of sacrifice was – closer to God – but still far
        • The Holiest was the 1^st room inside the Temple – only the priest were allowed
        • The Holiest of all was the inner room – Ark of the Covenant – presence of God
        • The Veil separated the Holiest – from the Holiest of All
        • Only the High priest could enter there – only once a year – the Day of Atonement
        • Bells on his robe / rope on his feet – if he made any mistake – he was dead
        • God did this to show that the way into God’s presence was closed – Hebrews 9:8
      • The Veil was no small piece of cloth – 60’ x 30’ x 4” – weighed an incredible 4 tons!
        • Yet with a great earth quake the veil was ripped open…
        • God (top to bottom) – not man – tore open the veil that separated man from God!
        • No longer is the way to God closed – it was opened up through the Cross!
        • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
        • A stranger does not have complete access to a parent – but a child does…
        • The Holiest of all – is now our family room – where we can boldly enter…
        • Coming to our Father for mercy and Grace whenever we need it!
      • The Jews later ‘repaired’ the veil…
        • Not long after – the Jewish leaders sewed the veil back up…
        • God had opened up the way – men wanted to close it again…
        • They would rather have religion – than a true relationship with God!
        • Men love religion because it puts salvation in their hands – not God’s…
        • Men love religion because it feeds their pride – self-righteousness…
        • But Religion cannot get you into heaven – on the contrary – it keep you from God…
        • It is like putting the Veil that Jesus tore down – back up again
    • The graves were opened…
      • Many of the saints (believers) who had died – were raised after Jesus’ crucifixion!
        • They walked around Jerusalem – appearing to many…
        • This is a bit of an odd verse – the idea is King David / Jeremiah / godly men of old…
        • Were raised from the dead – and walked around the city after Jesus’ resurrection!
      • Before Jesus died – no one went to heaven – Hebrews 11:39
        • Those who died having faith in the Lord – went to Abraham’s bosom…
        • When Jesus died He went and set them free – Isaiah 61:1
        • He now has the Keys to Hell and Death – Revelation 1:18
        • Jesus opened up the door to Eternal Life – the resurrection of the dead…
        • We are all one day going to die – these bodies wear out – (older people say Amen)
        • But we do not sorrow or weep like those who have no hope – death is not the end…
        • We have the hope – because of Jesus – that we will one day get new bodies!
        • * II Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”
  • 2^nd – Truly this was the Son of God…
    • A centurion who stood at the foot of the cross – said truly this was the ‘a Son of a God’…
    • The centurion was moved by seeing Jesus on the cross…
    • But he did not necessarily believe that Jesus was God – died for his sins…
    • We stand with that centurion at the foot of the cross…
      • Do we believe in Jesus’ ‘finished’ work – do we receive His (A) for our (F)…
      • Do we now have complete access to the Holiest of All – our ‘family room’…
      • So we have the hope that we will one day life forever with Jesus – resurrection
    • Or are we moved my the message of the cross – but still do not believe…
      • Are we still caught up in religion – the list of things we must do to be righteous…
      • Do we still have that Veil up in our heart – keeping us from seeing God
  • 3^rd – Following from afar… many of the women who had followed Jesus…
    • Mary the mother of Jesus (was there to see her son die – John 19:25)
    • Mary Magdalene (Jesus case 7 demons out of her – Luke 8:2)
    • Mary the mother of James and Jose (perhaps the sister of Mary – John 19:25)
    • Salome – mother of James & John (Sons of Thunder – Mark 15:40)
    • The Apostle John was also there – John 19:26
    • Those who stand with Jesus – like those listed here – will find their names written…
    • In the Lambs book of life – Revelation 21:27 – they will get to go to heaven!