LENT R EFLE EF LECT LE CTIO CT ION IO N LENT REFLECTION
The words from the cross Major John Waters continues his series for Lent, reflecting on ‘the word of triumph’
‘I
T is finished’ (John 19:30). In Greek the saying we considered last week, ‘I am thirsty’, is a single word of just four letters, and this week’s saying is also brief. In English we need three words but in Greek it is just one word – tetelestai – one triumphant acclamation: ‘It is finished.’ It is possible, but not certain, that John gives us the word that is simply described by the other evangelists as a ‘loud cry’. If we are right in thinking that the cry of despair – ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34) – reveals Jesus as accepting and suffering the ultimate consequence of sin, then this shout shows that he also emerges from that despairing abyss. But what was finished? The verse does not give any detail. The same Greek word is used previously in John 19:28: ‘Later, knowing that everything had now been finished…’ In this case the English translation of the Greek tetelestai is ‘everything had now been finished’, but again the verse provides no detail of what Jesus had in mind. We are, however, provided with a clue by the phrase that follows these words in verse 28: ‘…and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” He was then offered wine vinegar. We may then suppose that what has been finished is the fulfilment of the series of Old Testament references, in this case Psalm 69:21: ‘They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.’ But it can just as correctly be linked with what precedes verse 28. The verse begins with the word ‘later’ – literally ‘after this’ – which in Greek suggests an indeterminate length of time and may refer specifically
to the Crucifixion, described in verses 23 to 27, or to much more. Of course, this fulfilment of Scripture is more profound than the mere ticking of Old Testament texts and, however it is translated, we may deduce that in the life of Jesus the purpose of the Scriptures had been accomplished. There was nothing left undone, nothing still to be done. All that the Father had desired and expected had been offered to the world; both the revelation of love and the deed of love were complete. In Jesus’ life the good news of redemption had been personified, so that the great cry of ‘It is finished’ is not the weary outburst of defeat but a declaration of victory – an anticipation of the Resurrection. The powers of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions hath dispersed: Let shouts of holy joy outburst, Alleluia! (SASB 233) Still on the cross and not yet dead, Jesus is confident in the justness of his cause and in the mercy of the Father. We cannot be sure which saying is the precise wording of the
‘loud cry’, or even whether that was another word altogether, but we can be assured that on the lips of Jesus ‘It is finished’ expresses the confidence that will also be considered next week in the final saying, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46). But, before we conclude this week, it might be profitable to look at another occurrence of the word ‘finished’ that is used in a similar context. As the apostle Paul contemplates his probable execution, which he likens to an offering, he writes his testimony: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ (2 Timothy 4:7). What he meant by this is probably expressed in the charge he gives to his young friend in the preceding verses – to work tirelessly, courageously and with due care in proclaiming the gospel – which is summed up in the final phrase: ‘Discharge all the duties of your ministry’ (v5). Although there may be different ways of accomplishing that charge it remains the vocation of the disciple. And, as in Jesus, the medium and the message become one, so that we are called to be like him, to live and be the good news, and to finish and fulfil the duties of our ministry.
‘
All that the Father had desired and expected had been offered to the world; both the revelation of love and the deed of love were complete
’
MAJOR WATERS LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN BIDDULPH MOOR
Salvationist 13 April 2019
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