When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.—John 19:30, RSV

Homer Montague

Just prior to his death the Scriptures indicate Jesus exclaimed from the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30). What was the meaning of those notable words? Primarily it was an expression of triumph that the Savior had faithfully completed his sacrificial death in providing the ransom price to recover father Adam and ultimately the whole race of mankind who were under the death sentence because of the original transgression in the Garden of Eden.

This process took three and one half years from Jordan to Calvary. Considering the various facets of Jesus' experiences, these words probably had additional depth of meaning including these three possibilities:

First, Jesus came to this earth to carry out his Father's will and purpose as he said, "Not my will but thine be done" (Luke 22:42). Thus, he completed the task which God had given to him and, despite the sufferings and oppositions endured, he never fell short in any particular from doing exactly what the Father desired of him.

Second, these words marked the fulfillment of Old Testament types and prophecies which pointed to the sufferings and death of Messiah. This was not something clearly understood by the disciples before Pentecost. In this regard our Lord explained the matter further to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).

Third, this expression also seems to indicate a dispensational change from the Jewish age or Law dispensation to the Gospel age in connection with the death of Jesus. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4).

For believing Jews who accepted Christ as their Savior, the Mosaic Law Covenant was no longer binding upon them. In this connection we read: "None accepting Christ as the Passover Lamb, and thus accepting the antitype as taking the place of the type, could any longer with propriety prepare a typical lamb and eat it in commemoration of the typical deliverance.  . . . These henceforth must eat, or appropriate to themselves, the merits of their Redeemer—the merits of the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all." (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 6, p. 463.)

 "It is finished" was a comprehensive statement by Jesus attesting to his perfect completion of everything personally required of him while on this side of the vail. During his ministry, the Lord said: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4).

A Personal and a Prophetic Application

This Scripture has a personal and a prophetic application. While in the flesh, Christ was engaged in teaching, healing, proclaiming the kingdom message, and demonstrating the requirements of self-denial, cross-bearing, and obedience to the Father's will. His mission was declared to the Jews in the synagogue as Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1,2. After the reading Jesus told them the Scripture was being fulfilled even as they heard his words. This was their reaction: "And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way" (Luke 4:28-30).

Jesus' ministry surely was not a bed of roses, yet he continued doing the work which his Father gave him to do until the very end when he could do nothing more while in the tomb. From a prophetic standpoint, Jesus' ministry was at the end of the Jewish day or Jewish age and as a result of Israel's national rejection of him as their Savior, their house was left desolate and their night of disfavor commenced. Shortly thereafter Gentiles were able to enter in and partake of the high calling which once was limited only to Israel.

Throughout the Gospel age, each member of Christ's body has individually had the responsibility to proclaim the good news and to live a life of consecration to the very end when a night of death would occur and nothing further could be done. In John 9:4, several translations give the thought that we must work the works of him that sent us thus making the text apply to the church as well as Jesus in the flesh. If there is a future restriction regarding public dissemination of the truth, such a time would prove to be a prophetic dark night where there would be no further opportunity to work in the Lord's vineyard.

The apostle Paul was an example of someone who labored faithfully while it was yet day for himself. He was not conformed to the world and its activities; his mission was to discover for himself what was the will of God. This required an emptying of self, of ambition, and not gratifying the old creature, but rather a walking in newness of life.

A Great Fight of Afflictions

Paul endured pain, persecution, hunger, shipwreck, beatings, tauntings from false brethren, and deprivation of every sort, but he persevered to the end when he could say, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Everyone who fights the good fight, keeps the faith, and loves Christ's appearing will receive the crown of righteousness when the sacrificial course has been completed. The question Christians should ask daily, is whether they are doing the things which will merit such approval.

During his earthly ministry, the secret of the Master's success and overcoming was that he denied himself and accepted with joy his Father's will as his own and engaged in every cross-bearing activity which God permitted. Ultimately he poured out his soul unto death on a literal cross at Golgotha. His familiarity with the Scriptures as a spirit-begotten son of God would make our Lord keenly aware that Isaiah 53:12 was a picture of his own future crucifixion which had its New Testament fulfillment.

Three Examples of Discipleship

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus gave three individuals some indication as to the rigors involved in discipleship. One man pledged to follow the Lord wherever he went but the Master indicated he had no permanent dwelling place such as the birds which had nests or foxes which had holes in which to rest. Christ was de-emphasizing the importance of earthly treasures when contrasted with obtaining a heavenly inheritance. It must have been exhilarating to be counted as one of Jesus' followers in his day, but it might be thought provoking to consider what would occur today if discipleship literally required traveling from place to place all of the time without a permanent abode or home for seasons of refreshment.

In the case of a second individual, after being invited to follow the Master, he asked to be allowed to bury his father first. This person apparently had an aged parent who needed assistance; he promised to serve the Master's cause after his father was cared for and eventually died. Many of the Lord's people presently have as a kind of mortgage the responsibility for taking care of an elderly relative. This does not suggest that such a responsibility be abandoned in the interest of serving the truth, but on the other hand brethren should not forsake the assembling together even though it may be limited in scope because of a need to provide assistance for a loved one. In such a case the Lord's will should be sought because he is able to open doors which may aid in finding opportunities for fellowship with others.

The third individual in this series was one who desired to bid farewell to those at his home before following the Lord. When Jesus answered that no man who put his hand to the plow and looked back would be fit for the kingdom of God, he was emphasizing the urgency of pressing on with one's consecrated service and an avoidance of being distracted by earthly concerns which have been given up. In each of these illustrations, our Lord was not merely giving sound counsel, but by his own life he demonstrated that he would allow nothing to hinder him from doing his Father's business. Thus he persevered in having his sacrifice fully consumed until he could express those words from the cross, "It is finished."

A Memorial Season Lesson

During the Memorial season the Lord's people are especially drawn together in heart communion and commemorate the glorious example of the Master's pouring out his soul unto death for mankind, as well as the invitation to be joint heirs with him in the kingdom through a death baptism. An appreciation of divine providence and the privilege of being sacrificed and included as part of the one loaf that is being broken for the world should encourage believers more and more to strive to walk as the Master walked as we read, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).

This requires a walk of holiness, a walk of love, a walk of sacrifice, a walk of devotion to godly principles and the summoning of all the Christian's energies to entertain those thoughts that are lovely, just, honorable, pleasing, and pure. There also is a need to maintain constancy in terms of being worn out in the service of the Lord, rather than to become discouraged or weary because of the difficulties connected with the Christian walk.

Were it not for the fact that brethren can share with each other the trials as well as the victories, there could be an inclination to believe that others do not experience similar difficulties according to the flesh. There are concerns which many believers have that don't relate necessarily to the new creature. These include bereavement, financial reversals, physical or mental afflictions, an unanticipated disaster which occurs, and various perplexities connected with everyday living.

Many Sources of Christian Suffering

Overcoming adversity and trial is a necessary part of a Christian's experience for we read, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Suffering is not limited to official persecution from the government or the nominal church as may be more pronounced in certain countries. Some of the Lord's dear ones suffer from their family's opposition to the truth and are ostracized by their relatives because of it. Some are suffering from physical ailments but still persevere in witnessing to the truth despite limitations of vitality. Such a one who continues to serve the truth in whatever capacity he or she is able will be given credit by God even if such an one no longer is able to do as much as formerly because of various impediments of the flesh. If one were unable to get to meetings but read Scriptures, listened to tapes, prayed for other brethren, or did something else related to the truth, it undoubtedly would take extra effort and perhaps aggravate one's physical condition. Yet that would be an example of overcoming while suffering for righteousness' sake.

Some of the Lord's people suffer because of the trials associated with raising a child. It is difficult enough to give children the proper guidance during this evil period of time. For those who are spirit begotten, the balance between letting youngsters grow up normally while at the same time setting before them the principles of righteousness can be especially trying. This is especially true when one's son or daughter is taunted by peers or classmates because they are deemed as having a peculiar religion. When adults make a consecration, rejection or ridicule may be anticipated. But when one's offspring is subjected to such treatment, it can be a source of great anguish for both parent and child. Parents in the world also suffer when their children are in pain, but they don't suffer as a Christian since the source of their child's problems are not predicated upon the parenting influence of being raised by new creatures in Christ.

Another form of suffering may occur when the consecrated desire companionship from someone of the opposite sex but because of the lack of available prospective partners or because of a previous marriage, he or she is forced to choose between an unscriptural marriage or forever remaining alone. It is probably easy to give advice when one is not in that particular situation, but for those who are, it can be a source of tremendous anguish in trying to come to a definite decision as to what course should be taken. If such a one is guided solely by what he or she considers to be the only biblical option to follow, and it is at variance with what the individual might desire otherwise, it could result in a severe trial. Thus there are many ways of suffering by the Lord's people and a need exists for prayer, seeking out Scriptural principles, and supportive counsel from spiritually mature brethren to aid the dear ones who are being tested in these and other difficult areas.