Finished: What did Jesus mean when He spoke of this on the cross?
The “last words of Jesus” when He was on the cross, as recorded in what are typically referred to as the Gospels, are:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,”
“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,”
“Woman, behold thy Son,”
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”,
“I thirst,”
“It is finished,” and
“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”
All these statements offer profound insights into Jesus’s character and His mission on Earth. But what specifically was He talking about when He uttered the words— “It is finished“? You’ll find many statements made by our Lord in the time of His earthly ministry that speak of this, but they were all stated in such veiled terms that obviously even His apostles didn’t understand them. Here are Matthew’s words of admission about this—
Matthew 16:21-22
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and SUFFER MANY THINGS of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and BE KILLED, and BE RAISED AGAIN the third day.
Then please note Peter’s reaction to this statement—
22 Then Peter took him, and began to REBUKE him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall NOT be unto thee. [Emphasis added]
It seems that nearly all their thinking centered around Christ’s statements about His promised earthly kingdom. This was especially the case after they were told they’d each have a special position of rulership over that kingdom.
Matthew 19:27-29
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall SIT UPON TWELVE THRONES, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. [Emphasis added]
This was truly an earthly kingdom Jesus spoke of. It was not about a kingdom they would have or be a part of IN Heaven. He said it was a kingdom OF Heaven but one that would be ON Earth. John the Baptist spoke of this same kingdom OF Heaven—
Matthew 3:1-2
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom OF heaven is at hand. [Emphasis added]
Then our Lord often spoke of this kingdom ON Earth.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom OF heaven is at hand. [Emphasis added]
The apostles were even told to pray for the coming of this earthly kingdom.
Matthew 6:9-10
9 After this manner therefore PRAY YE: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, as it is in heaven. [Emphasis added]
It is foolish for believers now to pray for this coming of Christ to the Earth to do this. We’re not looking for that kingdom now; we’re looking for Him to come to meet us in the air on the occasion of what is called our BLESSED HOPE, what many today now call the Rapture which is believers being taken up to meet the Lord in the air.
Titus 2:13
13 LOOKING FOR that BLESSED HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Emphasis added]
This verse is a reference to the Rapture, not the Second Coming of Christ. You’ll find numerous articles on this website regarding this that we now call the Second Coming of Christ.
Second Coming: Must the world first be evangelized?
Second Coming: Who will be with Christ when He returns?
Second Coming: Why has He still not returned?
You’ll find twenty-nine (29) more references in “the Gospel of Matthew” [besides the ones I’ve already mentioned in this article] to this EARTHLY kingdom of Christ. We even see that after Christ’s crucifixion and right before His ascension into Heaven, it was still this promised EARTHLY kingdom that the apostles were thinking about.
Acts 1:6
6 When they [the apostles] therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again THE KINGDOM to Israel? [Emphasis added]
Even the thought of them ultimately living IN Heaven was never mentioned because it didn’t pertain to them and they at that time knew nothing about it. THAT revelation came later, and it comes to us only through the apostle Paul’s writings and is strictly to do with us as “members of the Body of Christ” who will someday live IN Heaven. We’re told that as believers we have already gained our citizenship there; we’re just not bodily living there yet.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [POLITEUMA = citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
It was on the cross that the work was “finished” or completed that made all this possible. That’s why Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is sometimes called “the finished work of Christ.” The death of Christ was the first phase of this, and His resurrection was His last. When Christ completed this first phase He then said “it is finished.” The Greek word He used to state this is significant. TETELESTAI is the word used and it is written in the perfect tense [for a completed action in past time], passive voice [the payment made was received] and in what is called the indicative mood [the fact that this really did occur]. The full payment for man’s sins was paid. It is because of all this that salvation is a gift to anyone who accepts or believes in what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection.
John 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar [OXOS = an inexpensive wine], he said, it IS FINISHED [TELEO = completed]: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. [Emphasis added]
When a believer dies in our time he goes directly to Heaven in soul and spirit and that becomes his new home where he’ll reside forever. It is at a later time that we get our resurrection body. The whole matter is settled then and forever. Our salvation is said to even be sealed by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also SEALED us, and given the earnest [ARRABON = earnest or guarantee] of the Spirit in our hearts. [Emphasis added]
This acquisition of the Holy Spirit that every believer receives when he accepts the gospel message makes it impossible for one’s salvation to ever be lost. It is permanent! Our salvation was a gift that came to us when we believed and trusted in the gospel message—
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
There are other verses that speak of this—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
This was provided as a matter of grace; we certainly didn’t deserve it.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace [CHARIS = undeserved] are ye saved [the perfect, passive, participle of SOZO, meaning we were saved with results that continue (in this, forever)] through faith; and that [salvation] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God [meaning we didn’t do anything to deserve this]:
9 NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
And, again, our salvation is sealed forever by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:12-14
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. [Emphasis added]
As believers saved by grace, we’re told that we’re not to grieve the Holy Spirit by our sinful and foolish decisions.
Ephesians 4:29-30
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [Emphasis added]
This tells us that there will never be anything that’ll somehow cancel our salvation. Nothing could ever be more permanent! Our new “home” is permanently reserved for us IN HEAVEN.
However, regenerate [born again] Israel’s new home will be on a restored Earth. It is OUR home that is and will always be in Heaven! The idea of any of God’s people ever living in Heaven was not known in Old Testament times and in the times of the four gospels. We’re told that this was a SECRET still held in the mind of God until it was first revealed through the apostle Paul and his subsequent teachings and writings.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
51 Behold, I shew you a MYSTERY [MUSTERION = secret]; We shall not all sleep [pass away in death], but we shall all be changed,
This “change” is when we get a new resurrection body. This will occur at the time of what is called the Rapture. For more information about this event, please see my articles about it. Here are the links to a few of them—
Rapture: Does this occur before The Tribulation?
Rapture: How is this different from The Second Coming?
Rapture: Is there anything about it in The Four Gospels?
Rapture: What is the meaning of this term?
Rapture: Who was the first to reveal this?
Rapture: Will people get a second chance to be saved?
Again, the fact that the Rapture is said to have been a mystery tells us this information was still unknown until it was revealed through the apostle Paul. The prophets of old knew nothing about it and wrote nothing about it. You’ll find articles on this website that provide a full explanation of that—
Mystery: What is the key to understanding the Bible?
Mystery: What is the fellowship of the mystery?
Mystery: What is this Secret that Paul wrote about?
Mystery: Why does it continue to be one for so many?
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 continued…
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Emphasis added]
This event Paul refers to as a mystery is still a “mystery” to most churchgoers including pastors and missionaries. They know little to nothing about it and even though some may have heard about it, they’ve rejected it.
When Jesus cried out on the cross—“It is finished!”—He made it clear that there was nothing that needed to be added to what He had done to provide everyone with a way to salvation and eternal blessing. This also has been rejected by many who ought to know better, namely, those who accept what is called Calvinism and Reformed Theology.
1 Timothy 2:6
6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
I always want to ask these people what they don’t understand about such a simple word as ALL. Even the apostle John writes about this truth regarding the scope of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE world. [Emphasis added]
Yes! Anyone in the whole world of mankind can be saved. That’s because God loves the whole world of mankind. The most well-known verse in the Bible tells us this—
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [Emphasis added]
Jesus of Nazareth submitted Himself to the suffering of the cross to make this salvation available to us.
Romans 5:8-10
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [Emphasis added]
Every believer will have a part in God’s kingdom. It is this kingdom on Earth that is often spoken of as Christ’s Millennial reign. You’ll find an article about the features of this coming thousand-year reign of Christ on this website—
Millennium: What will be its features?
Conclusion—
Our Lord’s last words on the cross represent the greatest accomplishment in the history of mankind. The Bible tells us a price had to paid for man’s sinfulness. Our Lord’s last words from the cross are extremely important for us to know and understand. But what most churchgoers and preachers don’t understand is that even more than that is their need to become familiar with Christ’s “last words” to us spoken from His heavenly ministry through the teachings of the apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh [speaking of His earthly ministry], yet now henceforth know we him no more [we now know Him through His heavenly ministry, the revelation that was initially given to our apostle Paul]. [Emphasis added]
Since Christ’s ascension into Heaven and the salvation of the apostle Paul a radical change has occurred that most of the church of today is quite unaware of. For more information about that, please see my article about it—
Acts 9: What’s the great significance of it?
The crucifixion of Christ was quite different from the many others that have taken place in history. Probably the best verse that sums it all up is this one—
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It was THIS that was “finished” on that day. Now all anyone has to do to end up in Heaven is to believe this. That’s all! Salvation is totally an expression of God’s love and His amazing grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [salvation] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
9 NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
It is because salvation comes to us in this manner that we should always be grateful. Our duty is to express our thanks by the manner of life we choose to live.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 9:15
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable ANEKDIEGETOS = inexpressible] gift. [Emphasis added]
Truly no one has ever given us anything that can be compared to the value of this. It was for this reason that John Newton composed his now famous hymn. Here are the words.
1 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
4 The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
5 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
6 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.
