John 19:30 Jesus said: “It is finished!”
When Jesus died on the cross, his last words included the emphatic: “Tetelestai!”, or “It is finished!” What did that phrase convey? Several things:
‘Tetelestai’ was used on a receipt to indicate the bill had been fully paid. Jesus actually bought us when he died on the cross. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says: “You were bought at great cost, therefore honour God with your body.”
In the first century, guards would commonly nail the charge-sheet to the prisoner’s door, listing all crimes committed. Having served the sentence, the prisoner would receive the charge sheet back with ‘Tetelestai’ stamped on it, i.e. sentence served. “He forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross” (Colossians 2:14 LB).
Upon returning from a victorious military campaign, a general would parade his captives of war through the streets of Rome and shout ‘Tetelestai! Tetelestai!’ i.e. mission accomplished. Colossians 2:15 says: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them on the cross.”
So the bill’s been fully paid, the sentence has been served, and the mission has been accomplished – that’s great news, and that’s the finished part. The unfinished part is that although the ultimate victory’s been won, the battle is still ongoing for us. All historians recognize that D-Day was the costly moment when Allied victory was won, yet there were many more casualties until VE-Day was declared with the full German defeat 11 months later.
The Devil is still very much in business. He wants to take you down with him. He’ll use whatever it takes, so stay alert, on your toes, guard your heart, watch out for others, prioritise what matters, and fight for the King of Kings!
Lord Jesus, thank you that ultimately victory is assured. Help me to fight the good fight of faith today. Amen!
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