It is finished

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
One thing we realise in reading through each of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, etc. is that He was the one in control of it. Not the Jewish authorities, not the soldiers, not Pilate – Jesus was the one calling the shots.
The death of Christ was not a defeat. It was the last Adam’s complete victory over sin and death. The grave could not hold Him. It had no power over Him. Jesus’ death marked the copletion of His mission during His first coming – being obedient to the Father, living a sinless life, and enduring death so that by Him many could be made righteous (Rom. 5:19).
In saying ‘It is finished’, Jesus was not talking about the drink He had just received, but that His work of atoning for our sins was complete. He then dismissed His own spirit, just as He had said earlier (John 10:17-18).
It is possible to spend all day – indeed, our entire lifetime – contemplating Jesus’ work on the cross. But the most important issue is this: have you personally received the gift that He offers you through it, the gift of eternal life? If not, ask Him for it today.