It Is Finished

This is my favorite time of year.
It really is.

"It is finished"

With those three words Jesus committed his spirit to God and conquered the power of sin and death. Every time I read these words I get chills just thinking about the power, authority and truth that Jesus spoke just before he died. Think about it; here is a man who was betrayed, spit upon, humiliated, mocked, whipped, beaten and then nailed to a cross where every ounce of his body slowly, excruciatingly succumbs to death.

We can read through the gospel accounts of Jesus' death in a matter of minutes, and yet, not fully grasp its meaning. After all, he wasn't the only person to experience crucifixion, right? What makes Jesus so special that we worship him and not the others who were crucified before and after him?

I will give you one word: Love

You see, Jesus wasn't a criminal; he didn't murder anybody. He wasn't hateful, proud or judgmental. He didn't deserve to be on that cross....we did. And yet he loved us so much that he was willing to give his life for us.

A baby born in Bethlehem

Love

A healer to the downtrodden

Love

A king on a donkey

Love

Jesus betrayed

Love

Jesus whipped and bloody

Love

Jesus mocked and spit upon

Love

Jesus' arms stretched out

Love

Jesus' body torn as nails rip through bones and nerves

Love

Jesus hanging on the cross

Love

For nearly six hours Jesus hangs on that cross. Fighting the pain, he arches his back, puts weight on the nails and pulls himself up, just so he can take a breath. But his body is giving out and with each breath he gets weaker until he can no longer muster the strength to breathe.

Knowing this is the end, Jesus, the Son of God, in a mere whisper says:

"It is finished"

And with those three whispered words the armies of darkness were defeated.

Love

Romans 8:15-17
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.