The Word of Triumph

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” —John 19:30

Jesus’ last cry on the cross wasn’t the moan of a vanquished warrior or a spent sufferer. This was the shout of a victor announcing the battle was over and His earthly mission complete. When Jesus “cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit” (Matt. 27:50), He was declaring triumph.

So, what was finished? For one, the prophecies about His birth, life, ministry, and atoning sacrifice had been fulfilled. Further, everything He’d been sent to do was accomplished. The storm of God’s wrath had been poured out on Him, and now the eternal plan of redemption was totally complete. The battle against sin and Satan had been fought and won. And now our Savior triumphantly declared the final victory.

All that’s left now for those redeemed by the Savior’s blood is to celebrate the canceling of the record of debt that was against us (Col. 2:14). His cry of victory is now ours, as final today as when it first resounded atop Calvary. We, too, are free, for “it is finished!”