On this fateful day in Jerusalem, a huge crowd had gathered at the place called Skull Hill. It was on the north side of the city, just outside the Damascus Gate, and located by the side of a well- traveled road. The Romans liked to hold their crucifixions in public places. Killing people in public had a salutary effect on the masses. This particular crucifixion started at 9 A.M. For three hours everything proceeded normally. Then at exactly 12 noon, the sky went black. Not overcast, but pitch black, so black that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. It wasn’t anything normal like an eclipse. The darkness seemed to pulse and throb, almost like the darkness was a living thing, an evil mutant creature escaped from some science fiction movie. Only this was no movie. What happened was real. For three hours darkness fell across the city of Jerusalem. There were screams, hideous cries, moans, and other unidentifiable sounds. Then, just as suddenly as it started, the darkness lifted, disappeared, vanished, and sanity returned to the earth. One glance at the middle cross made it clear that this man Jesus would not last much longer. He looked dead already. His body quivered uncontrollably, his chest heaving with every tortured breath. The soldiers knew from long experience that he wouldn’t make it to sundown. Moments passed, death drew near, then a hoarse whisper, “I thirst.” The soldiers put some sour vinegar on a sponge and lifted it to his lips with a stalk of hyssop. He moistened his lips and took a deep breath. If you listened you could hear the death rattle in his throat. He had less than a minute to live. Then he spoke again. It was a quick shout. Just one word. If you weren't paying attention, you missed it in all the confusion. He breathed out another sentence, then, he was dead. What was that shout? In Greek it is only one word … Tetelestai… “It is finished.” The strife is o’er, the battle done; Now is the victor’s triumph won! Now be the song of praise begun. Alleluia! The pow’rs of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions has dispersed. Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia! Tetelestai comes from the verb teleo, which means “to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish.” It’s a crucial word because it signifies the successful end to a particular course of action. It’s the word you would use when you climb to the peak of Mt. Everest; it’s the word you would use when you turn in the final copy of your dissertation; it’s the word you would use when you make the final payment on your new car; it’s the word you use when you cross the finish line of your first 10K run. The word means more than just “I survived.” It means “I did exactly what I set out to do.” But there’s more here than the verb itself. Tetelestai is in the perfect tense in Greek. That’s significant because the perfect tense speaks of an action which has been completed in the past with results continuing into the present. It’s different from the past tense which looks back to an event and says, “This happened.” The perfect tense adds the idea that “This happened and it is still in effect today.” When Jesus cried out “It is finished,” he meant “It was finished in the past, it is still finished in the present and it will remain finished in the future.” Note one other fact- He did not say, “I am finished,” for that would imply that he died defeated and exhausted. Rather, he cried out “It is finished,” meaning “I successfully completed the work I came to do.” Tetelestai, then, is the Savior’s final cry of victory. Matthew Henry expands on what Christ’s death accomplished in four statements, each one beginning with the letter F. The death of Christ provided a: A. Full payment for sin B. Fatal blow to Satan C. Fountain of grace opened that will flow forever D. Foundation of peace laid that will last forever But there is more to the meaning of tetelestai. It means all of the above, but it especially applies to the price paid for the sins of the world. Beloved, let me ask you a personal question. What sin is keeping you from God today? Is it anger? Is it lust? Is it a hard heart of unbelief? Is.it alcohol abuse? Is it an uncontrollable temper? Is it cheating? Is it stealing? Is it adultery? Is it abortion? Is it pride? Is it greed? Let me tell you the best news you’ve ever heard. It doesn’t matter what “your” sin is. It doesn’t matter how many sins you’ve piled up in your life. It doesn’t matter how guilty you think you are. It doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been. It doesn’t matter how many skeletons rattle around in your closet. All of your sins have been stamped by God with one word —Tetelestai— Paid in full! Anger … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Pride… Tetelestai … Paid in Full Gossip … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Drunkenness … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Fornication … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Embezzlement … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Lying … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Disobedience … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Slothfulness … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Greed … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Murder … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Bribery … Tetelestai … Paid in Full Idolatory ... Tetelestai ... Paid in full JUST NAME IT ... TETELESTAI ... PAID IN FULL! Fill in the blank with whatever sins plague your life. Then write over those sins the word Tetelestai because through the blood of Jesus Christ the price for “your” sins has been Paid in Full. ’Tis done—the great transaction’s done; I am my Lord’s, and He is mine; He drew me and I followed on, Rejoiced to own the call divine. Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day; Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away! You see, Since Jesus Christ paid in full, the work of salvation is now complete. That is what “It is finished” means. The debt was paid, the work was accomplished, the sacrifice was completed! And since the verb is in the perfect tense, it means that when Jesus died, he died once for all time. The sacrifice was sufficient to pay for the sins of every person who has ever lived—past, present or future. Also, Since Jesus Christ paid in full, the only thing you can do is accept it or reject it. Thanks be to God that Jesus left no unfinished business behind. He finished what he came to do, and in finishing his work he paid in full the price for your sins. As the song writer says, “Sinner, this is all you need. Tell me, is it not?” The implications of the word- TETELESTAI is eternally positive for those who repent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but eternally negative for those who refuse to. Acts 4:11-12: This (Jesus) is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Paul says, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin on our behalf; that through Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21)" When Jesus spoke the word, "Tetelestai!", everything changed. He crushed the Devil's head and truly set us free from his enslaving grasp. The only way to benefit from this landslide victory is to forsake sin and turn to God, acknowledging the work of salvation that Jesus accomplished on the cross by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savoir. Beloved, will you make a decision to turn away from sin and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Say this short prayer
This article includes excerpts from "Seven Last Words of Jesus", a sermon series prepared by Dr. Ray Pritchard.