2026-05-03 IT IS FINISHED

Discover What "It Is Finished" Really Means: Three Truths That Change Everything

Ever heard someone say, "It's finished!" and wondered, wait—what exactly is finished?

Imagine bumping into me at Walmart on a Tuesday morning. I walk up, smile, and say, "Hey! It's finished!" then walk away. You'd probably think I'd lost my mind, right? You'd stand there wondering: What is finished? Did the students finally drive him crazy? Did he forget his coffee?

That's exactly the question we face when we read John 19:30. Jesus, hanging on the cross, moments from death, declares three simple words: "It is finished." But what is finished? His ministry? His life? The whole movement He started?

Turns out, Jesus left us clues—breadcrumbs in Scripture that answer this very question. And when we follow them, we discover three life-altering truths about what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

Death Is Finished: Jesus Accomplished Substitution

In John 19:28-29, Jesus says, "I thirst"—fulfilling Psalm 69:21, where David cried out for rescue from cruel treatment. David begged God to skip over his suffering. But Jesus? He willingly stepped into it.

He didn't ask to be passed over. He became the Passover lamb. While David hoped to escape death, Jesus embraced it—so that death itself could be defeated. He took the punishment meant for us. That's substitution. Jesus didn't just die; He died in our place so death would lose its grip on us forever.

Sin Is Finished: Jesus Accomplished Redemption

Here's where it gets beautiful. Roman soldiers were about to break Jesus' legs to speed up His death—standard crucifixion protocol. But Jesus gave up His spirit just in time, before they could touch Him. Not one bone was broken, fulfilling Exodus 12:46, the instructions for the Passover lamb.

Why does that matter? Because John the Baptist looked at Jesus and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Jesus became the ultimate Passover lamb—redeeming us, buying us back from sin's grip. Graduates (and all of us!), you've been purchased. You've been set free. Your sin? Finished.

Wrath Is Finished: Jesus Accomplished Propitiation

That big word—propitiation—just means Jesus absorbed God's righteous anger toward sin. The soldier who didn't break Jesus' legs? He picked up a spear instead and pierced His side (John 19:34), fulfilling Zechariah 12:10.

Even that brutal act was part of God's plan. Jesus took the wrath we deserved. Every ounce of punishment, every consequence of rebellion—He bore it all. The wrath that should have crushed us? Finished.

What This Means for You

Death, sin, wrath—all finished because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. That Greek word John uses—tetelestai—means both "It is finished" and "It is accomplished." Nothing left undone. The debt? Paid in full.

So wherever life takes you—whether you're heading to college, starting a new job, navigating relationships, or facing big decisions—carry this truth with you. Let it be so evident in your life that people ask, "Why are you different?" Then tell them about what was finished 2,000 years ago and what Jesus is still doing in your life today.

Your Next Step: This week, take five minutes in quiet solitude and thank Jesus for what He finished. Ask Him to show you one area where you're still trying to "finish" things on your own—and surrender it to Him.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You that death, sin, and wrath are finished because of Your sacrifice. Help us live in the freedom You bought for us. When we're tempted to carry burdens You've already carried, remind us again: It is finished. May our lives reflect that victory everywhere we go. In Your name, Amen.

2026-01-11 What Is True Worship?

Discover True Worship: Four Transformative Truths That Will Change How You Honor God

What if the worship songs we sing on Sunday mornings are just the beginning? What if true worship is something far more costly, more beautiful, and more life-changing than we've ever imagined?

In John 12, we find Mary doing something that seemed wasteful to everyone watching. She took a pound of expensive perfume—worth nearly a year's wages—and poured it over Jesus' feet, then wiped them with her hair. The room filled with fragrance. Judas immediately criticized her, suggesting the perfume should have been sold to help the poor. But Jesus defended her, recognizing her act as true worship.

This powerful moment reveals what genuine worship looks like when it flows from a transformed heart.

True Worship Costs Us Something

Mary didn't give Jesus her leftovers. She gave Him her most valuable possession. True worship requires sacrifice—our time, our resources, our comfort, our plans. It's easy to worship when it's convenient, but authentic worship often demands something from us.

Martin Luther once said, "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is worth nothing." When following Jesus begins to infringe on our comfort or routine, that's precisely when our worship becomes real. The widow who gave two small coins gave more than the wealthy because she gave everything she had. God doesn't measure our worship by the amount but by the heart behind it.

True Worship Faces Criticism

When you worship wholeheartedly, expect pushback. Judas questioned Mary's devotion, making it sound reasonable and righteous. But his real motive was greed. Similarly, when we use our resources, time, and energy to honor Christ, others may misunderstand or mock us.

Paul reminds us in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." We must love others unconditionally while striving unconditionally to please God—not the other way around.

True Worship Honors Jesus Above Everything

Mary's worship focused entirely on Jesus. She didn't split her devotion between Christ and something else. We can't worship God and money, God and status, God and relationships. It's God alone or it's not true worship.

Isaiah 42:8 declares, "I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other." When we exalt Jesus above everything else in our lives—our careers, our families, our dreams—we're finally worshiping in spirit and truth.

True Worship Overflows from a Transformed Life

Here's the ultimate test: Are people drawn to Jesus because of your life? After Lazarus was raised from the dead, people came to faith not just because of Jesus, but because of Lazarus's testimony. His transformed life overflowed, pointing others to Christ.

If you've been saved and transformed by Jesus, it should show. Your life should overflow with His presence in a way that makes others curious. At work, at home, at the grocery store—are people leaving interactions with you wanting to know more about the One who changed you?

Take the Next Step

Examine your life honestly. Is your worship costly, or do you only give God what's convenient? Are you willing to face criticism for your faith? Does Jesus hold the throne in your life, or are you splitting your devotion? Most importantly, is your transformed life pointing others to Christ?

True worship isn't confined to Sunday mornings. It's a lifestyle that honors Jesus in every moment, every decision, every relationship. It costs us everything, but it's worth everything.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, transform us into true worshipers. Help us surrender everything to You—our time, our resources, our comfort, our very lives. Give us boldness to worship You even when it's costly or criticized. May our lives overflow with Your presence so that others are drawn to You. Make us worshipers who honor Jesus above all else. In His name, Amen.