It Is Finished

Year 8-Day 101:Today, I am grateful "It is finished." 

My friend, Susan, shares an hourly update from 6AM - 3PM on Good Friday of Jesus's last day leading up to the crucifixion. It is a powerful piece of writing a friend shares with her and she passes it along. She has done this for the past few years. It has become an important part of Good Friday for me. 

Every hour it hard to read the reminders of his suffering, but it also contains the truth that Jesus chose the cross. He wasn't forced. He willingly took our place, out of love and compassion. 

Jesus, alone, uniquely understood what it meant to be human and holy. He was both. He had so much compassion for our weaknesses and infirmities. He loved us at our worst... so why would we not want to give him our best? 

"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." -John 19:30

God's heart surely broke. "This hurts me more than it does you."... remember that line from our parents before discipline? As parents, we begin to understand the depth of God's love for us. In God terms, when the soul is involved, it is much bigger than children breaking curfew or family rules.  He let Jesus take the punishment for all, so that all might have the opportunity to be saved. 

Human suffering is a part of this life. God allows it, but it hurts him when His children are in distress. His goodness is not impacted by any life circumstance. How we respond in troubled time reflects where we are in relationship with Him and on our faith journey. 

“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” -Mark 8:33

On this day, Good Friday, perhaps we can pause and reflect on the fact that God did not spare Jesus the suffering, so that all who called him Lord would be saved. 

After a long night and the most painful of days... finally... Jesus whispered, "It is finished."  Make no mistake. He could have called 10,000 angels. He could have said "no" to the mission, he had a choice. He chose to redeem us. It wasn't finished until He said, "It is finished." Did heaven weep in sorrow or with tears of joy?

Today, I am grateful "It is finished."