When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Into the Text
Have you ever wondered why we call the Friday before Easter Good Friday? When we reflect on the events of that day, they were the darkest, most horrific events in history. How can we call it good?
Jesus was and is the only person to ever exist who was without sin. He never had an unholy thought, never muttered an unkind word, never acted with selfish intent. He never lied, never cheated, never stole, never murdered, never lusted. And yet He was treated horribly, unjustly convicted, and brutally murdered. Today, we remember these events on a day we call Good Friday.
But it was good. Jesus’ purpose in becoming human was to die. He lived perfectly and never sinned so He could be a substitute for the penalty we all deserved. He took the blame, the punishment, and the wrath of God on our behalf. He suffered and died so that we would never have to experience the wrath of God if we place our faith in Him.
Jesus’ final words on the cross show who He is. Jesus’ life was not taken from Him; He gave it up willingly. He was not forced into submission or killed. Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested, tried, beaten, and crucified to fulfill His purpose: to die so that we might have eternal life with Him.
Jesus completed His work. He fulfilled the Scriptures and showed Himself to the world. He is the true King. He is the One who offers us life by His death. By His grace, He takes our sins and gives us His righteousness. This is good news indeed!