Read John 19:28-37
It Is Finished.
Jesus is near death on the cross and has completed what the Father had asked of him regarding his persecution and sacrifice. All that is left is his Death and Resurrection. In Jesus’s final hour, three things happened that fulfill Old Testament prophecy which gives validity that Jesus is the one that God promised to bring Salvation to the world.
The first prophecy is when he asked for a drink found in Psalms 22:1. They gave him a drink of vinegar on a sponge. He took of it and then said “It is finished.” The Scripture says that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The second prophecy fulfilled is when the Jewish leaders asked for Jesus’ legs to be broken. The soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals to expedite their death. But when they came to Jesus, they could see that he was already dead. So they saw no need to break the legs but still pierced his side with a spear causing water and blood to flow out. The water was probably the fluid buildup around his organs and the blood was more of his blood shed for us. Old Testament prophecy said no bones were broken but he was pierced for our transgressions.
So how Jesus died just gives validity to Old Testament prophecy that Jesus is the Messiah.
What is also interesting: when Jesus died, it says “He gave up his spirit.” This is just a reminder that the devil had no power to destroy Jesus. His body experienced death, but his Spirit was not destroyed. That belonged to the Lord and that same spirit would soon return into the resurrected body of Jesus.
May that be a reminder for us, that when we die, our spirit will live on: it either lives on for eternity with the Lord or lives on for eternity in the Lake of Fire called Hell. “It is finished!” Jesus did everything necessary to provide this eternal life with him. May you receive him into your life today!
