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"When Christ said it is finished
did He mean here on earth and He still had work to do in heaven?" Harrell Davidson |
We are thankful for every reader of The Gospel Preceptor and for your study of the truth. The late brother Guy N. Woods said on many occasions that he could tell the depth of a person's Bible knowledge by the question or questions they asked. This month's question falls into that category. The question is, "When Christ said it is finished did He mean here on earth and He still had work to do in heaven"? The passage in which this statement is found is John 19:30. In fact, this is the only time the statement is made in the Gospel records. The Scripture says, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." Literally, He meant that His personal ministry was now concluded. We realize that there are those who will disagree with this because they take the position that He had now accomplished all that there was to be accomplished. If one is speaking in generalities we would have no complaint, but not everything was yet fulfilled. When Jesus said, "It is finished" had His blood as yet been shed? Notice John 19:34. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." The answer will have to be no. His blood had not been shed when He made the profound statement in the question above. Was the blood being shed important? Both in prophecy and fulfillment it was/is vital. His blood was shed after His death. This fact is sometimes overlooked, but as the soldiers came to break the legs of those crucified, Jesus was already dead and His side was pierced. In cannot be argued successfully that His blood was shed when He said, "it is finished." That precious blood purchased the church (cf. Acts 20:28). The blood washes our sins away (cf. Acts 22:16). Where is the blood contacted or applied to our souls? "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3)? Without the blood we could not reach His death thus we reach His blood when we are baptized into Christ. This work had not been accomplished when He said, "it is finished." What about His resurrection? Had it been accomplished when Jesus made the statement? Again, the answer is a resounding no! Sometime when you have the opportunity study the Scriptures and mark everything that is tied to His resurrection. There is another matter here that we wish to discuss for a moment. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). Jesus had promised the Comforter in John 14:26 and 15:26, 27. Notice verse 26 in particular. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." Our space is now limited for this column, but the point is that unless Jesus ascended back to the Father the Holy Spirit could not be sent. Had He not ascended we would not have Inspiration. The apostles were to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit came as Jesus promised. "It is finished" refers to His earthly ministry that had now been accomplished. Thanks for the question. |