Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
When Jesus cried, “It is finished” from the cross (John 19:30), he used the Greek word tetelestai. These final words reveal the powerful meaning of the cross and God’s plan to restore our relationship with him.
I always look forward to completing a project. Whether the goal is to clean my house, submit a manuscript, or check the last item off my to-do list, I love declaring, “It is finished.” And since my shoulder surgery, I’ve looked forward to finishing physical therapy, to restoring full function and use of my arm. Although experience has taught me that completing the therapy doesn’t mean I’ve finished my work. If I don’t continue using my shoulder or knees, my strength will slip and my progress will unravel.
However, Jesus’ “It is finished” didn’t mean the same thing mine does. He knew God’s purpose from the beginning, the plan birthed before the foundation of the world. Even before Adam and Eve shattered the peace and fellowship of the garden. The Son shared his Father’s heart to restore the relationship between the Creator and the created. God sprinkled hints of his intention throughout Scripture.
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Suggestions from the Hebrew Scriptures
We see the first clues explaining the Father’s intended reconciliation early in his story. When Genesis describes creation, the biblical author says God “finished” his work (Genesis 2:2). Nothing is missing or incomplete.
In Exodus, a suitable sacrificial lamb needed to be perfect, without defect or blemish (Exodus 12:5). Just as the lamb’s blood on the doorpost saved the Hebrews from the death angel, the blood of Jesus redeems us from the wages of sin. Paul later refers to Jesus as our Passover lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Psalm 22 concludes with David’s declaration, “He has finished it” (Psalm 22:31 GW), which echoes Jesus’ final words from the cross. The Hebrew word “finished” is related to shalom (peace, wholeness). When God fulfills his promise, when he restores unity, he brings shalom.
Lamentations shows God’s judgment against idolatry. “Your punishment is complete,” Jeremiah assured the Jewish exiles (Lamentations 4:22 CSB). Jesus bore the full penalty for our sins, so we no longer face God’s punishment.
“It is finished”—What Did Jesus Mean?
Although Old and New Testament authors wrote in different languages, they shared the same story, revealing God’s restoration plan.
John records Jesus’ last words from the cross in John 19:30. “It is finished.” Tetelestai. Jesus’ declaration of victory is far from the cry of a defeated man but the shout of a triumphant king. He didn’t say, “I am finished,” but “The work is finished.”
In the first century, merchants wrote tetelestai on a bill when the debt was paid in full. Servants also used the term to report they’d finished their assigned tasks. The word conveyed the completion of their duties.
Tetelestai indicates that a mission has been accomplished. Paul compared his life after becoming a believer to a successful and completed athletic competition. “I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:7 CEV)
Jesus fulfilled the Law by meeting its demands and showing us our need for a Savior. “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.” (Romans 10:4 NLT)
Finished for What Purpose?
God’s goal since Adam and Eve chose to join the family of the father of lies has been to restore us to his family. The cross not only functions as the way of salvation but also the road to fulfill God’s intended purpose.
Before Jesus’ crucifixion, he prayed for his followers. In John 17:22, he asked that we may be “perfectly one” with the unity God desired from the beginning. Not that we become gods, but that he welcomes us into his family. What’s the connection with “It is finished”? Teleo is the root for both tetelestai and the word translated “perfectly.”
When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” he was saying God’s redemptive plan had reached its complete fulfillment. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb, who satisfied the requirements of justice.
The suffering Jesus endured wasn’t just to secure our eternal future. His finished work restores us to fellowship with the Father and unites us with one another. Sin destroyed the harmony of the garden, but the cross makes it possible again. Not just someday but today.
The Invitation of Easter to Restore Our Unity with God
My physical therapy demands ongoing effort. If I fail to perform my exercises, I lose the progress I’ve made. However, Jesus’ completed work is different. His payment doesn’t require repetition. Our restoration doesn’t rest on our strength.
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he didn’t mean the story was over. Rather, he was signaling that his sacrificial death had opened the way back to the Father. The Son paid our debt, removing the barrier between God and us. He invites us to experience the joy of the divine purpose, the unity he secured for us at the cross. Not just in the future but in the present. Despite our messy, sin-stained existence, he welcomes us into his family with open arms.
He’s reconciled us through his sacrifice so we can be perfectly one. Will we allow his mercy to define us?
What Did Jesus Mean by “It Is Finished”? How the Cross Restores Our Unity with God by @NancyLucenay on NancyLucenay.com Share on XJoin the Conversation
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