"It is finished!"

SS Lesson John 19:17-30

EXPLAIN. Good morning, Father, my Wonderful Savior, and Holy Spirit. Jesus, Tetelestai, the Greek word You said at Your death, Your last utterance, “It is finished.”  I had never known this until this morning.  But it means more than it is finished.  It means it has always and will always be finished.  You have done it, the one thing you came to earth to do, and it is always done.  It means your sacrifice is good today for all who would call upon you for it.  It is never undone, You finished it once forever, to the uttermost.  Which gives us heir(ship) even throughout all eternity.  Your salvation is good forever, even to eternity.  Such a beautiful term but also such a renewed understanding of Your atonement.  It is eternal.  You will never lose us.  Nothing can ever separate us from you and your love—Tetelestai.  

APPLY. Holy Spirit you are always at work to give our salvation more and more meaning, to encourage us, teach us, comfort us, and renew our faith in Christ, daily if we will but show up.  So much of my living at the moment can so relate to this word, tetelestai.  My time here at Union is ending, it is finished and will always be finished.  My record is set, I have lived it for 27 years.  I do not know the exact number of days, but they were all lived and now the dye is slowly drying.  

RESPOND. Christ, without You, what?  I confess it is you, was you, only you.  My life here, is faulty at best, marred, messy, often wrong, but always me with You.  You never left me, even though I often went on without You.  I must now fall back onto you.  It was for You, because of You, and You alone.  I am grateful!!!  Thank YOU, my Great Tetelestai.