LEARNING DAILY

 

John 19:30, So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

 

“It is finished!”  This was not a cry of one who is referring to the completion of some homework assignment.  This is a cry of triumph, a declaration that the work of the cross was accomplished.  It was a proclamation that the earthly mission of Jesus, given by the Father, was accomplished; Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy about the suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53).  Jesus had completed the work of redemption as the sacrificial and Passover Lamb of God found in 1 Corinthians 5:7.  By stating “It is finished!”, Jesus made it clear that victory over Satan and his demons had been achieved at that moment; this was the achieved means for reconciliation of God with His creation and sinful humanity (from the notes in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible).

 

You and I need to understand what Jesus did for us so long ago on the day we call Good Friday.  While you are reading this the Lord Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross.  By doing so He took your place and my place, the place where we rightfully should have been due to our sinfulness.  Here is what I want to be understood – there is nothing else any of us can do to make ourselves right with God.  Nothing can be added to the finished work of the cross for salvation.  The way of salvation is open to all who believe in and confess their sinfulness.  Our debt for our sin has been paid in full and the plan of salvation has been established.

 

There is nothing any of us can do to make ourselves right with God.  Once we have accepted the finished work of Christ and given Him our life, we do need to do all we can to be obedient to His Word.  Once we have accepted His invitation, it is important to get into the Bible, study it and do our best to follow it.  I have often referred to Jesus’ words about entering the narrow gate (Jesus’ offer of salvation) and then staying on the narrow way to His kingdom and eternal life.  Jesus told those He healed to go and sin no more.  When we do sin, confess it, ask for forgiveness and get back on the narrow way.

 

Do not let today go by without being thankful for what Jesus Christ did for you.  Perhaps this is a Good Friday to meditate on His work for you.

 

 A rabbi went home to tell his wife that he had rented out the family tomb.  The wife was taken back because all their family had been laid to rest there and the two of them and their family were to be laid to rest there.  After some discussion the rabbi looked at his wife and told her the rental was only for three days.

 

If you receive this blog through email, you can go to the regular blog page by moving your cursor to the top of the page and click on LEARNING DAILY header.  Then you can see the archived articles and comment section. You can also leave a comment by clicking on the date in the Comment Section.