How do you imagine Jesus said the phrase "It is finished" when He gave up His life on the cross? In dramatic productions I've always seen this line delivered in broken gasps, a declaration that the terrible ordeal was complete. But in the Good Friday drama that we attended this weekend, I was struck by the note of triumph in the delivery of this phrase. At first this was jarring, but on reflection I think the actor got it right.
Jesus had just been through an ordeal of pain and suffering beyond anything endured by anyone who has ever lived. This is a really big statement, given the stain of sadistic cruelty mankind's history has left in its wake. But though others have suffered physical and emotional torture just as horrific, none of the many who have suffered have ever been forsaken by God. This is a pain that none of us can even imagine.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus gave up His life of His own volition - it was not taken from Him. Consequently, Jesus did not speak these words with the last ounce of His strength. This was something other than a very understandable last gasp. Something more.
The Bible also makes it clear that this perfect sacrifice was the final sacrifice for sin. The awful debt was finally paid in full, and the fealty owed by mankind to the slave master we had chosen in our pride was finally through.
So then, what IS finished? Our death is swallowed up in this victory. More important, what IS NOT finished? Life! This is the great conundrum - death itself is finished in the death of Christ, and true life is finally made possible by the perfect life He willingly gave.
The final word has not been spoken. Easter's on the way...