“It Is Finished”
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“It Is Finished”

 (ID: 1324)

Death is an event over which we have no control. Even for the most hope-filled believer, this inherent loss of control is sobering at best and fearful at worst. For Jesus, however, the end of earthly life represented a fulfillment of purpose and prophecy. In this message from John 19, Alistair Begg teaches that even those men who intervened in Jesus’ death and participated in His burial were contributors to the accomplishment of God’s redemptive plan.


The Death of Jesus

28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now bfinished, said (vto fulfill the Scripture), c“I thirst.” 29A jar full of sour wine stood there, dso they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, e“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and fgave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

31Since it was gthe day of Preparation, and hso that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was ia high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other jwho had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out kblood and water. 35lHe who saw it has borne witness—mhis testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—nthat you also may believe. 36oFor these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: p“Not one of his bones qwill be broken.” 37And again another Scripture says, r“They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38sAfter these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly tfor fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39uNicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus5 by night, came vbringing a mixture of wmyrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds6 in weight. 40So they took the body of Jesus and xbound it in ylinen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a zgarden, and ain the garden a new tomb bin which no one had yet been laid. 42So because of the Jewish cday of Preparation, dsince the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.