WHAT WAS FINISHED AT THE CROSS?
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
1. THE ISSUE
a) This is a popular phrase in Christianity. What Jesus meant by this phrase?
b) We know we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9) in the work of Christ on the cross for us (Rom 4:24-25, 1Cor 15:1-4, 2Cor 5:21)
c) The issues are as follows:
i. When Jesus said this, he had not yet died, let alone resurrected. This is the issue.
ii. Jesus had not yet revealed the gospel of grace, that isn’t done until a later time to Paul – Gal 1:11-12, Rom 16:25, 1Cor 9:17, Eph 6:19.
iii. Jesus earthly ministry was to the circumcision – Matt 15:24, Rom 15:8.
2. WHAT DID JESUS MEAN THEN?
a) “I must be about my Father’s business” – Luke 2:42-50.
b) “I must work the works of him that sent me,” – John 9:4.
c) What is the Father’s business/work? – John 6:28-35.
d) If the work of God is believing on whom he hath sent, then Jesus work was to manifest himself as the one sent – Matt 11:1-6 cf Isaiah 29:18, 61:1, 8:14-15, 26:19, Eze 37:1-14.
e) “The works that I do bear witness of me” – John 5:36, 10:25,37-38, 2:11, 20:30-31.
f) He came to finish his Fathers work – John 4:34, cf Psalm 40:7-8, Heb 10:9-11, John 17:4.
g) Fulfilling the prophecies was how he manifested who he was – Duet 18:18 cf John 1:45, Acts 3:22, John 17:8, John 4:25. Luke 24:44-47 cf Isaiah 53:7-12, Dan 9:24, 2Chron 29:24, Jer 31:34, Psalms 22:27, Micah 4:2, Isa 2:4.
h) Making the connection in the context – John 19:28-30 – All things were accomplished:
i. “I thirst” – Psalm 22:15
ii. “they filled a sponge with vinegar” – Psalm 69:21…. Prophecies fulfilled, thus, It “the work” is finished.
3. WITH FURTHER REVELATION, WE CAN SPIRITUALIZE THIS PHRASE
a) Today we use this phrase to mean that Christ did all the work and we do no work, which is true, but it is not what Jesus meant by this phrase.
b) Works after the cross? – Matt 28:20 (Matt 5:17-20, 23:1-3), Acts 2:38, Acts 5:1-11, 21:20, James 2:24, Heb 4:9-11, 1John 2:3
c) The mystery was revealed later, to Paul – Eph 3:1-5, Gal 1:11, 1Cor 15:1-4, 1Cor 9:17, 1Cor 2:7-8.
d) “By” the cross is different than “at” the cross – Eph 2:12-18, Col 1:20-25, Gal 6:14.
