What Did Jesus Mean When He Said 'It Is Finished'? (John 19:30) | Daily Devotional & Bible Study

On this Good Friday, we talk about what Jesus really meant when He said the words, 'It is finished.' Those words hold the heart of the gospel. Understanding them helps us rest in what Jesus has already done for us on the cross.

"Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30)

Questions this episode answers

What does 'It is finished' mean?

The Greek word is tetelestai, which carries the idea of a task completed or a debt paid in full. Jesus was declaring that the work He came to do, paying for sin, was complete. Nothing more needs to be added to it.

Why is Good Friday called good?

It was the darkest day in history, when the sinless Son of God was crucified. Yet through His death, Jesus took the penalty for our sin and opened the way to God. What looked like defeat became the greatest good for us.

What does the cross mean for my everyday faith?

Because Jesus finished the work, we don't have to earn God's love or forgiveness. We can come to Him with our failures and receive grace. That frees us to live from His love instead of from fear.

Links

On our Bible Study Live trip to Rome, our small group of women walks through the catacombs, where early Christians laid their loved ones to rest in the hope of the cross and the resurrection.

Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org

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