June 17 New Beginning

John 19:28-30 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30 Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!”

THERE it is! The plan is done. The work complete. Now the Son of God can go home. Obedient in all things to the Father, the Son will now reside on his throne in eternity’s glory. “It is finished!”
   Jesus’ life on earth was to complete the work the Father’s will required at this point in history. Jesus has ministered God’s grace to a world painfully imprisoned with evil. The Servant king has endured human suffering, even to be crucified. Now the work, the suffering is finished. The Lord’s compassion, joy, love and peace begins to flow from the cross to the world and into our hearts. Glory be to God!
   Yes, we praise God that Jesus was “born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried. On the third day he rose again and sits at God’s right hand.” (from the Apostles Creed). Oh, the power of those five phrases! God’s Son became human flesh. That alone is too difficult to fully comprehend. But the suffering under Pilate is even more difficult to understand. Can we realize the Holy One lived a life of labor, discomfort, poverty, and grief? Do we realize he suffered the insults of teachers of the law? His own people denied him even though he proclaimed his love through healings, resurrections and mass food distributions! Jesus suffered the doubts, pride and betrayal of his closest disciples. He suffered the horrific lash and piercing crown of thorns. And he suffered the cross and the grave.
   That was the God’s plan, so we will know the depth of our sin and the height of God’s love. Now the plan of redemption was finished. The blood has been shed. As John the Baptist declared, John 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  has fulfilled the prophecies and law. The Passover Lamb of God has been sacrificed to save the children of Abraham. Yes, this is for you and all who have and will confess Christ from that day on. Oh, sin’s curse is finished. The sentence of death is done.
   And now the new testament of grace and forgiveness has begun! Salvation flows from the cross. Remember and rejoice: Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
   Praise the Lord!
 
Prayer: Lord God, keep our minds on the great truth that death is done, and life is in your hands. Amen.