It is Finished! Matthew 27:45-50

 The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 

Jesus had said earlier in his ministry, "I am the light of the world, in me there is no darkness at all."  During the last three hours of his life on earth, his light was snuffed out and literally darkness came over the whole land. We learn from Mark's gospel (chapter 15) that Jesus actually hung on the cross from 9am to 3pm.  At the moment of death Jesus uttered the words from Psalm 22:1 penned by King David.  At that moment God the Father had forsaken God the Son for the sake of the sins of the world. Jesus paid a debt he didn't owe for we who had a debt we could not pay.  

The words "Why have you forsaken me?" are incredibly poignant given the relationship Jesus had with his Father throughout his life.

"Jesus had known great pain and suffering (both physical and emotional) during His life. Yet He had never known separation from His Father. At this moment, He experienced what He had not yet ever experienced. There was a significant sense in which Jesus rightly felt forsaken by the Father at this moment." (Guzik)

Although Jesus was clearly crying out to God the Father, others thought he was crying out to Elijah. Perhaps they misunderstood Jesus when he was saying "Eloi" not "Elijah".  This could have also been similar to the mocking taunts these men had given all along about the futility of Jesus' own efforts to save himself.  

Finally, Jesus cried out in a loud voice and gave up his spirit.  Jesus willingly went to the cross and willingly gave up his spirit.  Though Jesus was in a tremendous amount of pain in the end he was still in control of how he accepted his death.  This is confirmed in John 19:30 when Jesus cries out, "It is finished!"  This words means "paid in full", or "accomplishing all was intended".  It was a cry of victory! In this cry, Satan was defeated forever and the eternal purpose of salvation was fulfilled in Jesus death on the cross for our sins.   

What do you think God's purpose for your life is? Is it going to make the world at better place? Will  it advance his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven? When will you know it is finished?  How can Jesus' example of finishing the work the Father gave him be an inspiration to you?  



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