5 Understandable Words for Today

"Jesus said, 'It is finished'."  John 19:30

These five words declare God's perfect work of redemption for mankind as displayed through the torture and agonizing death of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Greek word that is translated, "It is finished", is actually one word:  Τετέλεσται. It is pronounced, "Te-tel-es-ti (with a long 'I' at the end), and is packed with meaning. It literally means to bring to complete finality or end, or an obligation fulfilled.

In Jesus' day, the word was used in business. It would be written on a parchment as proof of receipt for product, or as proof of payment for goods - i.e. 'paid in full'. In law, the word was used to record a deed's financial fulfillment or satisfaction; and was also used to note the legal standing of one who had been once imprisoned, being set free after paying his/her debt to society.

There is a debt each of us is burdened with fulfilling and are unable to fulfill. The Bible puts it this way: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23  The apostle Paul is describing how each of us comes up short in God's eyes. There is a deficit that needs to be accounted for, a debt which we are unable to meet. Jesus paid that debt. Our sin, our rebellious nature, condemns us to a deserved punishment of eternal separation from God. But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) He bore the punishment meant for us by taking our place at the scourging post, in the walk of humiliation, and on the cross. (Isaiah 53:4)

So, now the debt is paid. Accept this free gift today and know the hope of heaven's eternal joy.

Well done, my Lord...  well done...

Have a blessed Easter,

steve