Easter is my favorite time of the year. It is a time to reflect on our living Savior, our Jesus. With this new Easter season, comes new beginnings, new dreams, and new perspectives. The warmth of the sun resurrects in me that Jesus is alive and His mighty hand is in everything.
I love seeing all the posts on social media about Easter, about Jesus. It is finished keeps coming up on my news feed. But what are these three words that we repeat at Easter? What do these three words mean to us as Christians? What do these three words mean to us as we enter this new season of life?
John 19:30 explains, When Jesus had tasted it(sour wine), he said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The Greek word for it is finished is tetelestai. Tetelestai is an accounting term meaning that the debt is paid in full. This word was commonly used and was frequently stamped on receipts when someone's debt was paid in full. As Christians, the day that Jesus spoke this beautiful word, is the day that He began a relationship with you and me. His death paid our sin debt in full until the end of time. A.C. Gaebelein says of tetelestai, “Never before and never after was ever spoken ONE WORD which contains and means so much. It is the shout of the mighty Victor. And who can measure the depths of this ONE WORD!” Jesus paid it all with His life so that you and I could live forever in eternity with our Heavenly Father.
It is finished were not only powerful words as Jesus took His last breath on the Cross, but they are also just as powerful to us today. Let us ask ourselves, what needs to be finished in our lives today? What do you personally need to be finished with this Easter Sunday? Perhaps you need to be finished with an unhealthy relationship or an unhealthy habit. Maybe you need to be finished with the hustle and grind of your daily life. I recently saw a post that read, "It's all about the hustle!" Those words stuck with me throughout the week. I was prompted to ask the Lord, "do I need more hustle in my life to grow my ministry?" " Do I need to work more, make more contacts, work harder for you, Lord?" Later in the week, I heard a faint whisper in my inner being that said, "just ask me." At the sound of His voice, I stopped in my tracks and prayed to Jesus, " Lord, please allow someone to contact me today that will grow my ministry and allow me to glorify You!" At the end of the workday, I was clearing my desk and making my notes for tomorrow's "to do" list, when I received an email. The email was from a church pastor just outside of town. He emailed me to ask if I had time to speak to his church family about my new book: Remembering Lee: The Noblest Revenge is to Forgive. As I sat in my office chair, I quietly thanked God for His Voice, for His blessing, and for reminding me that there is no need for me to "hustle" for Him. He reminded me that It is already finished. Jesus has already paid my debt. I don't have to work myself to death for Him, He took care of that on the Cross years ago.
What do you need to be finished with today? Jesus will take whatever you need to be finished with and remove it from your life. Jesus is in the business of forgiving, saving, and healing. He is our redeemer. Give Jesus that "thing" that you need to be finished with today so that you can resurrect new dreams and a new life with Him. He will nail it on the cross for you just like He did for me. Trust Him with it and remember,
IT IS FINISHED!
Telelestai is the greatest Word from the greatest Man ever spoken, on the greatest day in the history of the world.
Happy Easter!