Articles
Finishing
In John’s gospel, Jesus final words from the cross were, “It is finished” (19:30). They were a fitting culmination of His life.
There was so much that Jesus came to do.
He came to preach the gospel (Mark 1:38), the good news of salvation, of His kingdom, and of the better life that can be found in Him.
He came to testify to the truth (John 18:37). As God’s final spokesman He presented the truth in word and deed, so that He could say, “I am . . . the truth” (14:6).
He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32), which is why He was so often in their company, much to the dismay of His critics. He treated the lost with compassion when He could and firmness when they resisted.
He came to serve (Matthew 20:28), serving both God and man. Everything Jesus did benefitted others in one way or another.
He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17), every prediction they made of Him, whether directly in a word or indirectly in a picture.
He came to be a light to the world (John 12:46), exposing the darkness of sin and ignorance that was and is so prevalent.
In every way, Jesus came to do the Father’s will (John 6:38). He did that so completely that the night before His crucifixion He could pray, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (17:4).
Now there was one more thing to do. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom (Mark 10:45), and that meant death on the cross. As much as He had already done, He would have fallen short without completing this final, essential earthly task. And not only would He have fallen short, we would be without hope.
Can you not see in Jesus the importance of finishing? That principle is just as vital to His followers as it was to Him. A good start is not enough. Years of work and service will be to no avail if we turn aside to the world’s attraction or give up under duress.
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Heaven is for finishers.
