Holy Week
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30
At 9:00 AM, the time of the morning sacrifice, Jesus was crucified. To everyone’s amazement, He said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). He offered forgiveness even to the thief on the cross when He assured him “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” His concern for His mother was evident when Jesus gave her to John’s care.
At noon, the sun stopped shining, and Jesus cried in agony “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). To fulfill Psalm 69:21, Jesus said “I thirst!” But He said this “knowing that all things were now accomplished” (John 19:28). Thus, Jesus said “It is finished,” and died at 3:00 PM, the time of the evening sacrifice.
The Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) Study Bible has a fantastic note regarding the words “it is finished”:
This was a cry of victory. Jesus’ triumphant cry indicates that he had completed all the redeeming work he had set out to do and that all Scripture had been fulfilled (verse 28). As High Priest and Lamb of God, Jesus had completely paid the full price for all sin and for all sinners, and as a result the door to heaven was open. This was demonstrated by the event that immediately followed Jesus’ cry. The temple curtain, which showed that sinners were barred from access to the holy God, was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The door to heaven was now open. The Greek verb (tetelestai), which is the perfect tense, indicates that the work of salvation was complete, with results that continue to eternal life. Jesus’ triumphant cry is the declaration that the debt of sin has been paid in full. The tearing of the temple veil was the receipt that the payment had been received and accepted. The resurrection provided further testimony. (The Wartburg Project. (2019). Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version Study Bible (Jn 19:30). Northwestern Publishing House; Wartburg Project.)
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us and grant us Thy peace. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, page 28)