Text: John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
One simple word, tetelestai, it is finished. The servant would say this when he reported to his master, all that you have asked me is complete, when an artist or writer completed a work the end, or as the priest after examining an animal for sacrifice that had to be without spot or blemish upon finding it he would exclaim tetelestai. As Jesus the perfect sacrifice, a one time sacrifice that never has to be repeated, completes his work this is his call, tetelestai. So what is the it, that he completes.
Most of us probably know the line from the song that says, “every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.” So what ended? A time where you had to sacrifice continuously so the blood of animals reminded you of your sin and brokenness before a holy God. The time where God’s anger burned against you, so strong that only his promise could remind him not to smite you. The time when our insecurities and guilt were a greater weight than our glory as Sons and Daughters of the King.
It takes a great tragedy, like the death of the Son of God to bring about an end to sins reign and freedom in the Gospel. Just as in The Lord of the Rings, it is a great victory as Frodo destroys the ring, yet the cost was tragic. No longer is Middle Earth in the age of elves and dwarves, but now enters the age of hobbits and man.
There was once a rather eccentric evangelist named Alexander Wooten, who was approached by a flippant young man who asked, “What must I do to be saved?”“It’s too late!” Wooten replied, and went about his work. The young man became alarmed. “Do you mean that it’s too late for me to be saved?” he asked. “Is there nothing I can do?” “Too late!” said Wooten. “It’s already been done! The only thing you can do is believed.”
All of this has been accomplished for your behalf, now your responsibility is to respond in love. We come to this table as a response. A response of what God has done on our behalf, that when he said it is finished that was all we need in order for us to lives as children of God, holy, blameless in his sight. Every wrong thing we have done has been taken care of by Christ and we now are only seen with Christ’s perfection by God. If this is what you believe, you must come forward to reflect upon the tragedy of what Jesus went through on your behalf and to joyfully anticipate the day we will be made complete in him. If you are not there yet, it is okay. I would not want you to profess something that you do not believe. Take this time to sit and reflect upon Christ, if you desire to be prayed for come through the line and Lewis or myself will pray with you. But do not feel any pressure to take part in this meal, we would not want to insult your integrity by asking you to profess something you don’t believe. How do we do this here at All Nations?
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
One simple word, tetelestai, it is finished. The servant would say this when he reported to his master, all that you have asked me is complete, when an artist or writer completed a work the end, or as the priest after examining an animal for sacrifice that had to be without spot or blemish upon finding it he would exclaim tetelestai. As Jesus the perfect sacrifice, a one time sacrifice that never has to be repeated, completes his work this is his call, tetelestai. So what is the it, that he completes.
Most of us probably know the line from the song that says, “every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.” So what ended? A time where you had to sacrifice continuously so the blood of animals reminded you of your sin and brokenness before a holy God. The time where God’s anger burned against you, so strong that only his promise could remind him not to smite you. The time when our insecurities and guilt were a greater weight than our glory as Sons and Daughters of the King.
It takes a great tragedy, like the death of the Son of God to bring about an end to sins reign and freedom in the Gospel. Just as in The Lord of the Rings, it is a great victory as Frodo destroys the ring, yet the cost was tragic. No longer is Middle Earth in the age of elves and dwarves, but now enters the age of hobbits and man.
There was once a rather eccentric evangelist named Alexander Wooten, who was approached by a flippant young man who asked, “What must I do to be saved?”“It’s too late!” Wooten replied, and went about his work. The young man became alarmed. “Do you mean that it’s too late for me to be saved?” he asked. “Is there nothing I can do?” “Too late!” said Wooten. “It’s already been done! The only thing you can do is believed.”
All of this has been accomplished for your behalf, now your responsibility is to respond in love. We come to this table as a response. A response of what God has done on our behalf, that when he said it is finished that was all we need in order for us to lives as children of God, holy, blameless in his sight. Every wrong thing we have done has been taken care of by Christ and we now are only seen with Christ’s perfection by God. If this is what you believe, you must come forward to reflect upon the tragedy of what Jesus went through on your behalf and to joyfully anticipate the day we will be made complete in him. If you are not there yet, it is okay. I would not want you to profess something that you do not believe. Take this time to sit and reflect upon Christ, if you desire to be prayed for come through the line and Lewis or myself will pray with you. But do not feel any pressure to take part in this meal, we would not want to insult your integrity by asking you to profess something you don’t believe. How do we do this here at All Nations?
posted by michaelstevensrev at 9:34 AM
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