“It is finished.” — John 19:30, CSB
Good Friday. The day that changed everything.
In the quiet of the morning, Jesus, the Son of God, was condemned to death by crucifixion. He carried His cross through the streets of Jerusalem, bearing the weight of the world’s sin. And when He was nailed to the cross, something profound happened. The perfect, sinless Savior gave His life, not because He had to, but because He chose to (John 10:18).
As He hung there, suspended between heaven and earth, He said the words that would forever echo through eternity: “It is finished.” The debt of sin was paid. The way to reconciliation with God was opened. The victory over death was secured.
But in that moment, it looked like defeat. The disciples were devastated. The world was in darkness. Yet, in the mystery of the cross, God was at work, transforming death into life, sacrifice into redemption, and pain into eternal hope.
Drawing #Closer to God Through the Finished Work of the Cross
Good Friday invites us to stop and reflect on what Jesus did for us. The cross is the greatest act of love—love willing to endure betrayal, brutality, and the weight of sin for the sake of others. And it’s a love that calls us to respond. To live differently. To let go of what once defined us.
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He wasn’t just declaring the end of His suffering. He was proclaiming the completion of His mission—our redemption, our reconciliation with God, and the beginning of new life.
But it’s more than a spiritual transaction. It’s a total transformation.
It is finished means your past doesn’t have the final word. Your shame, your guilt, your failures—they died with Him on that cross. Your destructive habits, hidden addictions, and false identities—He carried them too. Everything that once separated you from God—finished.
Jesus paid the highest price so we could walk in the fullness of freedom. Not to live small, diminished lives. Not to limp through life defined by what we’ve done or what’s been done to us. But to live like children of the King—healed, whole, and empowered by His Spirit.
So don’t short-change the work of the cross—embrace it.
Don’t settle for less than the life Jesus died to give you. It does not glorify our King to live defeated when He declared, “It is finished.”
As we reflect on the cross, let’s ask ourselves:
- What does it mean for me that Jesus said, “It is finished”?
- What have I been carrying that Jesus already paid for?
- How can I fully embrace the freedom, healing, and identity He died to give me?
A Friday Practice: Contemplate the Cross
Take a few moments to reflect on the significance of Good Friday. Don’t rush. Let the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice settle in your heart.
- Pause – Find a quiet place and sit in stillness. Reflect on the cross and what Jesus did for you.
- Remember – Read John 19:17-30. Let the depth of His sacrifice overwhelm you.
- Respond – Pray: “Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You for the love that led You to lay down Your life for me. Help me live in light of Your sacrifice.”
So today, as we draw #Closer to God, let’s not just remember the cross—let’s respond to it. Lay down what’s finished. Pick up what’s been won. And live like someone who’s been set free by the blood of the King.
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