Barry Kang

“It is finished.” (John 19:30).

Having drunk from the sponge of vinegary wine, Jesus speaks again, “It is finished.” The greek word is tetelestai. Translated with the full depth of its meaning, we might read, “It is finished. It stands finished. It will always be finished.” Jesus wasn’t a victim. He came to accomplish a mission and accomplish it he did. What exactly was finished? Wiersbe writes this:

The word tetelestai is unfamiliar to us, but it was used by various people in everyday life in those days. A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me” (see John 17:4). When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, this word would apply. Jesus, of course, is the perfect Lamb of God, without spot or blemish. When an artist completed a picture, or a writer a manuscript, he or she might say, “It is finished!” The death of Jesus on the cross “completes the picture” that God had been painting, the story that He had been writing, for centuries. Because of the cross, we understand the ceremonies and prophecies in the Old Testament.

Perhaps the most meaningful meaning of tetelestai was that used by the merchants: “The debt is paid in full!” When He gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law; He paid our debt in full. None of the Old Testament sacrifices could take away sins; their blood only covered sin. But the Lamb of God shed His blood, and that blood can take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Heb. 9:24–28).

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 believe.”
(source: Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books)

I want to end with Wiersbe’s last thought here. It has already been done. When we believed our sins were washed away. We don’t need to be saved again. The work has already been done! We don’t need to live in despair or anxiety. Our sin has been taken care of once and for all! Do we need to repent for new sins? Of course. But our repentance will only bring us back to the King who has already finished the work! Hallelujah!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you that you had a mission, and because you fulfilled that mission, I am able to be in a relationship with you forever. You have wiped away my once and future sin. I don’t ever need to feel ashamed but can instead seek to constantly turn my gaze and my heart toward you. I pray for your spirit to continue to change my heart so that it will be filled only with you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Additional Readings:
Matthew 26:57-27:61; Mark 14:53-15:47; Luke 22:54-23:66; John 18:12-19:30

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

There is a curious phrase here placed in parentheses: “in order to fulfill the scripture”. What scripture was Jesus fulfilling?

Earlier, we saw how Jesus said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is also the first line of Psalm 22, a Psalm which describes the Psalmist’s distress and also trust in God. Here, Jesus is quoting Psalm 69:21 which read, “for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.

Why does Jesus quote scripture? Well, he is not uttering scripture just to show that he is fulfilling prophecy. I believe that Jesus, who treasured the word of God, drew comfort from these Psalms, even as he lived them out.

You see, Jesus was thirsty. Sometimes it is hard for us to remember that even as Jesus was fully God, he was also fully man. Yesterday, we considered his spiritual agony. Today, let’s consider his physical agony. He was exhausted. Every lash had torn real flesh drawing real blood and leading to excruciatingly real pain. And on the cross, he was dying with unbearable agony. At any time, he could have called twelve legions of angels, and ended his suffering. But he withheld and endured.

And again, he did it for you and for me.

Prayer:
Jesus, it’s difficult for me to think clearly about your sacrifice. You could have called twelve legions of angels. You did not have to do this. But you chose to, for my sake, and for the sake of this fallen desolate world. Thank you does not even begin to say enough. I worship you as my King and my savior. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Additional Reading:
Matthew 26:17-56; Mark 14:12-52; Luke 22:7-53; John 13:1-18:12

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)

When I first became a Christian, my wonder was at God’s love for me. But becoming a dad - and I’ve been one now for over five years - has given me a whole new perspective on God’s love and God the Father’s love for His Son. So far, Caleb’s life has been relatively trouble free. No big accidents. No times when we lost him at the mall or left him home alone. He hasn’t been bullied at school as far as I know. But, there was a period in his life, from when he was two months old to about six months old when he had terrible eczema. He would break out in a rash from head to toe. One day we even had to take him to the ER because he was scratching so much he broke through skin all over his body. And all I could do was to hold him as he cried and feel completely helpless, and if I could have taken his eczema upon myself I gladly would have. And I got a glimpse of the Father’s love for His Son. Not his love for me, but his love for his son, Jesus.

There are many people I love. I love my church, for example. But do I love GCC enough to sacrifice my son for it? Could I choose to watch my son suffer like that? No, I couldn’t do that. If I could have put his eczema upon people at GCC, I might have.

And God the Father loves the Son in a way I can not begin to imagine. And he watches as his Son comes into this world, taking on a limited human body, all for a people who oppose him, reject him, deny him, and betray him. The Father saw all of this. He saw all the physical pain his Son had to endure. And then even more painfully, he watched as his Son took on all the burden of my sin and your sin.

Then for the first time in all eternity, God the Father looks away from His Son because of the sheer darkness of all that sin, and the Son is alone, and the Father is alone, and Jesus cries out, “Father! Why have you abandoned me?”

This is how much God love us. This is what God was willing to go through for us.

Prayer:
Father, I am overwhelmed at your love for me. It is amazing to think that you sacrificed your son for me. Help me to live in a manner worthy of this sacrifice. In Jesus name, Amen.

Dear woman, here is your son; Here is your mother (John 19:26-27).

I can’t even begin to imagine Mary’s agony as she watched her son being crucified. Some parents can’t bear to watch their children perform musically or athletically, but here is Mary watching her son go through an agonizing death. And Jesus from the cross, sees her, and makes provisions for her. He tells the Beloved Disciple that he must now take care of Mary as his mother, and Mary is to know that the Beloved Disciple will take of her (as a son). Until the end, Jesus is a loving son.

But I don’t think Jesus is only thinking about making sure his mother is cared for – after-all, she did have other sons (one of whom, James, would famously become the head of the Jerusalem church) who could care for her. So what is going on?

Perhaps what is happening is that upon the cross, Jesus was creating a new kind of family; a family tied not by ordinary blood, but tied by the blood of Jesus. In the church, we are to be mother and son, brother and sister to one another. And when one of our family members has a need, what if Jesus is asking that we take the responsibility to help fill that need?

And here’s something even better: the reason we are brother and sister to one another is that because of what Jesus did, we have a heavenly father who has adopted us into his family. We didn’t just gain brothers and sisters, we gained a perfect father!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can call you father. I thank you that I have gained brothers and sisters through Christ, in his blood. Help us to live in that familial relationship: to love one another and to love you. Help me to have a desire to always see your family extend out toward those who do not know you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Questions/Applications:
1. Have you considered lately just what it means that you are a son or daughter of the God most high? That he is not indifferent to you but in fact, he loves you with a perfect love? Spend some time reflecting on how you have been relating to God, and think about how you can live out your sonship or daughtership.
2. How can you care for your brothers and sisters in the church? Is there a need that God is calling you to meet?

Additional Reading:
Matthew 21:19-26:16; Mark 11:20-14:11; Luke 20:1-22:6; John 12:20-50

Over Passion Week, I will be looking at the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross. I hope you will find these devotional thoughts useful as a way of preparing your heart and mind for Easter. Also, I have noticed that Mark Roberts (one of my professors at Fuller) is also doing a series of devotions on the same sayings here. If we say things that seem to contradict each other, he's probably the one that's right!

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).

In the days leading up to Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, James and John came to Jesus with an unusual request, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Jesus asks them what they want, and they tell him that they want to sit at Jesus’ right and left in his glory. Jesus tells them that those places are not his to grant, “These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” (c.f. Mark 10:35-40, Matthew 20:20-28).

I believe that Jesus was thinking of these two thieves between whom he is now hanging. If you permit me to get a little theological, here are some incredible truths: The cross, which for the world was the most radical symbol of shame, is the glory of God. God turns things completely upside down. Literally, on the cross, Jesus was lifted high. Also, God chose two criminals to be on the left and right of his son! This is going to be a completely different kingdom. There is no one outside of the grace of God! God’s grace is available to all.

Let me turn to the reaction of these two criminals (probably political insurrectionists) to Jesus. The first criminal joins the religious leaders and soldiers in mocking Jesus. The second rebukes the first, and asks Jesus to remember him when his kingdom comes.

I have read this passage many times, but today it hit me. This is astonishing faith! Everything has gone wrong. To be crucified is to be cursed in Jewish thought. There is no hope for him. And there is Jesus in the same circumstances. Jesus is naked, scourged, and condemned. In Jewish thought, a messiah crucified was no messiah at all. If the messiah did not bring the kingdom of God by overthrowing the current powers that be, well, Ipso Facto, he could not be the messiah. But this second criminal turns to Jesus and in incredible faith, sees not another condemned criminal but someone who can offer him hope – a divine King.

And Jesus tells him that he is saved! A criminal for whom everything has gone wrong, at the end of his life, takes one step right, and there is his gracious God to come and save him.

There is no bad time to turn to Christ! There is no better time to turn to Christ than now! We don’t need to wait until the end of our lives to live in this grace. This grace is available for you today.

Prayer:
Father, I pray for the same faith as this condemned man, who looked at your son, Jesus, and saw a righteous King. You know the circumstances of my life. You know the bad decisions I’ve made. But I thank you that the sum of those bad decisions is not the final answer, but instead your grace is the final answer. I turn to you now and put all my hope in you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Application/Questions:
1. Take some time and think about the reactions of the two criminals. If you were to put yourself in their shoes, how would you have reacted?
2. Have you been placing your hope in something other than Christ? Take some time and write those hopes down, and surrender them to Jesus.

Further Reading:
Matthew 21:12-19; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48

Over Passion Week, I will be looking at the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross. I hope you will find these devotional thoughts useful as a way of preparing your heart and mind for Easter. If you are reading this from Temple, please know that we will have morning prayer Monday through Friday (7-8am).

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus had been arrested the night before. He had been put on trial (at least twice). Mocked. Beaten. A sleepless night. His back scourged with a flagrum (see picture). A crown of thorns mashed into his head. He was forced to carry his cross (possibly 300 pounds) the length of four football fields, a task which is so difficult in his weakened state that Simon of Cirene is conscripted to help him. Then on the hill known as Golgotha (translated as “the skull”, which the hill resembled), Jesus was crucified between two criminals, while his detractors and mockers crowed before him.

Then he spoke, as recorded by Luke: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus is not saying that ignorance is an acceptable defense. In a moment of excruciating (this word comes out of crucifixion btw) pain, Jesus shows us what it is to live out his own teachings (Luke 6:27-31) – to pray for and forgive our enemies. He is no teacher who cannot do, this Jesus!

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

You may have noted that Jesus’ prayer is not in some of the early manuscripts. Was this prayer added to Luke’s original gospel by later scribes? I don’t think so. We have a similar act of radical forgiveness in the death of Stephen (which parallels the death of Jesus) in Luke’s other work: Acts (see Acts 7:60). John Nolland (NT scholar) argues persuasively that this half-verse is omitted from some manuscripts because of the theological conviction of some scribes that the crime of crucifying Jesus could never be forgiven.

And when we think about the enormity of that crime – the killing of the Son of God – how much more amazing that Jesus intercedes on behalf of his killers?

But consider this. Who were his killers? Jesus was asking God to forgive everyone who was responsible for putting him on the cross. The crowds, the Jewish religious leaders, Pilate and the Roman soldiers...and us. You see, we are responsible also, you and I, for the necessity of the cross. The agony that Jesus endured. It was because of you. It was because of me. Our sin. We were enemies of God and He forgave us on that cross.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the forgiveness you made possible for us on that cross. Please forgive me my sins and help me to forgive those who sin against me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Application/Questions:
1. How are you doing with praying for your enemies? Is there someone you are unable to forgive? How does Jesus’ forgiveness help you to forgive?
2. Have you received the forgiveness of Christ? Are you aware of how much he loves you and the price he paid so that you could be with him?
3. Spend some time reflecting upon the implications of this forgiveness.

Additional Readings for Passion Week:
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19