It is Finished: Tetelestai

During Easter week a couple of years ago, I learned about a powerful word Jesus used on the cross: Tetelestai, which is Greek for "It is finished." It came from an accounting term that means "paid in full." Just hearing those words alone overwhelms my soul, but I also learned something about the tense of tetelestai. Tetelestai is perfect tense which by definition means "an action that was completed in the past or that the action extends to the present." It is also defined as "a verb that indicates that an action or circumstance occurred earlier than the time under consideration, often focusing attention on the resulting state rather than the occurrence itself." Wow. When I read this it left me speechless. Not only did Jesus say that it was finished, but by using the word tetelestai in it's perfect tense, he lets us know that it will always be finished! No one can take away what He did for us that day on the cross. No one can take away His perfect grace, mercy or love. He finished the work of salvation and redemption. He finished it for all the people that day and for all those born after.

John 19:28-30 "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished (Tetelestai).” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

In researching and reading about tetelestai, this stood out to me: "Jesus did not come to this earth for the purpose of acting as an opponent of the law. His goal was not to prevent its fulfillment. Rather, He revered it, loved it, obeyed it, and brought it to fruition." It's hard to even imagine all that He endured for us, but Jesus willingly and obediently fulfilled the law and fully met its' demands so that we could accept grace and have eternal life! How incredible is that?! There has never been, and will never be, a sacrifice or a display of love as big as we were shown that day.

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice, your mercy, love and grace! Thank you for giving us everything we will never deserve! When our burdens feel heavy and our faith is shaken, let us remember the words Jesus spoke on the cross, tetelestai, it is finished!