I am a sports fanatic. I love to watch the University of Alabama baseball, basketball, and football. So many times, games have come down to the last second. When time was up, you could hear me shout, see me jump up, and even give a high five to those around me. These emotions are exhilarating but short-lived. However, there is a victory shout that has echoed throughout history. Some have read it and wondered what it meant, while others have proclaimed it the victory shout!
In John 19:28-30, we see Jesus on the cross dying for the sins of the entire world. He had never sinned. The severe torture was not for His wrongdoing, but for the sins of the whole world. The scene at the cross was one of absolute agony. Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition. Pilate reluctantly ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. He had wanted to let Him go, but because he was a coward, he allowed Jesus to be crucified. It was common practice to write the crime one had committed at the top of the cross. It was done as a public deterrent and justification for the execution. In John 19:19, we find the words “Pilate wrote and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:20-22 teaches us that it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. The road would have been full of people from other countries celebrating the Feast of Passover. All those who filled the city would understand what was written. The Jews wanted it changed to say, “He said, ‘ He was King of the Jews. Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
The deed was done. Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified. While we cannot fathom what Jesus went through for us to secure our salvation, we must understand no one took Jesus’ life from Him; He willingly laid it down. It was the plan before the foundation of the world. At no time was Jesus not in control of the situation. He was not a helpless victim, but a sovereign Lord in total control of His final moments. He had accomplished His mission. All the prophecies about His death were fulfilled. God’s wrath was satisfied as the sins of humanity were paid for. In Isaiah 53, we find a detailed foretelling of Jesus’ death, yet this was written 700 years before it happened. The Jews should have recognized Jesus as their Savior, but they had been blinded by their own pride. Note, their behavior and unbelief did not change anything. What God had determined before the creation of the world would come to pass.
While He was God in the flesh, His deity did not keep Him from feeling every painful aspect of the crucifixion. He felt the ripping of His flesh each time the whip, which had pieces of metal and stones at the end of it, came across his back. He felt the strong desire for water after torture and hanging in the hot sun. Mentally He felt the wrath of God being poured out on Him for us. He felt the separation from His Father. He felt the mockery of the people. He felt it all!
In John 19:28, the Bible says that He knew all things were accomplished and that the scriptures and prophecies were fulfilled as He said, “I thirst.” The soldiers filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on hyssop, and placed it to His mouth. This was the same type of branch used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:22. Jesus was our Passover lamb. While in Egypt, God sent plagues because Pharaoh would not release His people. The last plague was to kill a lamb and put the blood over the door. If you did not, the firstborn male would die when the angel passed over the home. If the blood was applied, the family was safe, and no one died. Jesus becomes our Passover lamb when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord. His blood covers our sins.
Exodus 12:22 “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.”
After this, he cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished.” The Greek word for this is Tetelestai. It is a powerful word. It was often written across invoices or promissory notes in the ancient world, meaning “Paid in Full.” My debt, the debt of all, had been paid. There is nothing left to add to our salvation. No work required to earn God’s favor, and no penalties left to be settled. Now we who receive it can have the gift of eternal life. Jesus gave the victory shout that it was done. To this we should shout Hallelujah! Praise the Lamb! We ought to let those words ring out in our souls over and over again. To the Christian, Easter is not a day; it is a life lived out to honor the one who paid it all.
John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they fille d a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
