“IT IS FINISHED!”
Sorry for the all-caps there… I know how much it annoys me when people forget to take caps lock off, but this time it is in fact meant to portray a shout.
I don’t remember where I read about this, but I want to chat about something I read in a certain article regarding Jesus’ final words on the cross. Ever since reading the article, I can’t help but notice how films, sermons, pageants, and different versions of the Bible portray Jesus’ words, “It is finished.”
If you read the Gospel of John, you will find the following:
John 19:30 (NASB). Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
“He said.” That’s pretty much how this particular phrase, only recorded in the Book of John, is portrayed every time it is mentioned. It doesn’t seem like something for Him to just “say.” There is so much meaning wrapped up in these three little words. If you look at Matthew and Mark, however, you will find a bit more, even though the exact words are not mentioned.
Matthew 27:50 (NASB). And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Mark 15:37 (NASB). And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
He cried out with a loud voice. This makes so much more sense to me than “He said.” To be thorough (because I’m an engineer), let’s take a look at the fourth Gospel, Luke… and notice he includes one final saying from Jesus that the others do not.
Luke 23:47 (NASB). And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
NASB is typically my favorite translation of the Bible, closely followed by ESV, but in this particular case, I struggle with the wording. The “crying out with a loud voice” is attributed to Jesus’ saying in this verse. This is one of those rare occasions where I find the King James Version to make more sense.
Luke 23:46 (KJV). And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Notice the subtle difference in wording. “And when Jesus HAD CRIED with a loud voice, he SAID…”. In other words, Jesus cried out with a loud voice first, to everyone there, and THEN spoke directly to His Father.
Why do I find this so important? It’s something I’d like to see applied when His words, “It is finished,” are portrayed. I noticed this most recently during my church’s Easter pageant earlier this week (which was really excellent, regardless), and I noticed it again after rewatching Mel Gibson’s The Passion this weekend. In both of these portrayals, Jesus speaks very softly… almost to Himself. How can this be? Here is a man who has just endured unbearable punishment, followed by hours on the cross. Everything in His body is failing Him, but He has one final thing to say to everyone present. He basically has one final chance to preach to the world. Would He not scream it out loud for everyone to hear?
“IT IS FINISHED!“
Everything He has worked for… it is finally complete. Jesus made it. He was tempted so many times, but He didn’t give in. He paid the ultimate price… a sinless man, brutally crucified… to wash away our sins. God did what He said He would. What a joyous moment it must have been for Him. I find so much hope when I think that He cried that phrase loudly, full of love, as His victory was finally complete. Please, oh please, someone… next time Jesus’ crucifixion is portrayed… show how victorious a statement it was.
Final side note: Wasn’t it Mel Gibson playing William Wallace in Braveheart? Anyone remember his final statement as he’s being executed? “FREEDOM!!!!” He screams it out for everyone to hear. Now that is the way I think Jesus cried out. If only Mel could have remembered that while making The Passion.
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April 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I have this belief that Jesus talks very softly . . . my only basis for for it is Francis (who is being watched for sainthood), Ferdinand, and Kathleen – all have said the same thing, “Jesus speaks softly.” For some reason, even while on earth, and even in pain . . . I cannot envision him speaking any other way.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Everyone else I’ve chatted w/ regarding this so far has basically felt the same way. I guess the way I read the Scripture (including the Greek), Jesus cried something out… so which is it? Either He cried out “it is finished” or He cried out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” The first makes more sense to me.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Humm, interesting. I guess I never really envisioned Jesus speaking softly – why should He whisper? He’s God of creation and He gave us the words of life, is that something you’d want to go around whispering?
He spoke to 4,000 people (men, not including women and children) at once, He spoke to 5,000 people (again, men), He spoke to crowds everywhere He went, He rebuked religious leaders (not known for being timid), He made a whip of cords and overturned tables (twice)… Jesus was not a wimp or a wuss, but a Man of authority (Matt 7:29) and a God of power commanding the wind and waves to obey (Mark 4:39). He was the model of manhood and servanthood, He is the King over all kings, the Lord over all lords… I do not see a scrawny little hippy walking around Galilee saying “Peace man.”
People HEARD Him and what they heard was written down (ie, they remembered it). Luke was the investigative reporter, he interviewed everyone he could find while compiling his gospel, if Jesus went around playing “telephone” then we’d have an incoherent gospel message.
I believe Jesus screamed on the cross, “TETELISTAI” (it is finished) is not a whimper of pain, but the triumphal cry of a Conqueror promising the spoils of war to those who would follow Him. How many people whisper on a battlefield?
October 11th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Wonderful thoughts – I am a preacher and am getting ready to teach on shouting tomorrow morn – tonight I was studying and this very same dilemma bothered me about jesus’ final words on the cross because for JOY He endured the cross and already in John 17 He spoke of it being finished. So I just asked the lord about it and I believe he quickened acts 20:24 where Paul spoke of the way he would finish -WITH JOY!!! so I am starting to believe it was even a joyous shout because it was then that those who crucified him – heard Him and THEN claimed He was the Son of God. Just some thoughts dear ones .