By Mike Caton

John 19:30, “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

With that final sip of the sour wine, Jesus spoke one last time, “It is finished.” When you think about it, there is so much that was finished there on the cross. What is finished here actually started soon after the beginning. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by eating the forbidden fruit. God warned them of the consequences and as he had promised, everything changed. Death entered the world, Adam and Eve’s relationship with each other changed and their relationship with God changed. But God promised a savior that would come and make things right again. Finally, after all of those years of preparation, of longing, of waiting, of wondering God finally sent his Son to fulfil that promise. And the result of the sin of Adam and Eve, as well as the sin of every other human, was Jesus’ death on the cross. It was finished when he gave up his spirit.

That appears to be a sad and tragic end, death. Many people had followed Jesus, put their faith in him, committed themselves to him, trusted him, looked to him as the Messiah. And here, the Romans spurred on by the Jewish leaders have not just killed him, but they have killed him in the worst way possible. He was tortured, beaten nearly to death, crucified and hung up for all to see. I’m sure they congratulated themselves on getting rid of this troublemaker. Other gospels tell us that the earth quaked, rocks split open and the day became dark. It was truly finished.

And yet, we know it really wasn’t. I hate to get ahead of ourselves here, but there is no way we can talk about Jesus’ death and not talk about his resurrection. Three days later, the tomb was empty. Not because someone stole his body, not because he didn’t really die, but because God raised him back to life! That is the end of the story we celebrate! Because in his death and resurrection Jesus shares this victory with every single one of us. And we can live because he lives. That is the best news ever. But it is up to us to accept that good news, to allow him to pay our price and to enjoy the salvation and freedom he gives.

Father, thank you for finishing what you started, In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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