What Happened at the Cross?

"And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments" (Luke 23:34 ESV)

While Jesus was on the cross, some miraculous things happened. On crucifixion day, 28 different verses of messianic prophesies were fulfilled, and Jesus entrusted his earthly mother to the beloved disciple John, the only apostle noted by his own hand as attending the crucifixion. All of this is wonderful. However, according to the Gospel of John 19:30, the three most important words uttered by Jesus were uttered from the cross, “ It is finished,” Tetelestai (Τετελεστάι)[1] Jesus said that it was finished.

What was finished? Jesus had completed God's plan for redemption. He bore human sin and drank God's wrath toward that sin. All our sins were put on him at the cross.

The Father, within the Trinity, sent Jesus to do this. Paul makes this very clear in 1 Cor 5:21, where he wrote, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. When this happened, the door to heaven was opened for humanity, and through our professed faith in Christ and the repentance of our sins, Christ makes us righteous before God.

Taking a step back to the appearance of Christ before Pilate, the governor said to the Jews, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? (Matthew 27:22). We all know that Pilate complied with the pressure of the Jewish authorities and sentenced Christ to be crucified. A necessary sentence leading to the words, “It is finished.”

Another miraculous thing happened on the cross that only happened this one time in the New Testament. Jesus promised someone they would go to heaven. We see Christ as the crucified Savior, which He is, but Christ was crucified as a criminal along with two others. A thief was dying on the cross beside Jesus. He said to Jesus remember me when you enter your kingdom. (Luke 23:41-43).  Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief had placed his faith in Christ as his Savior. The moment you call on Jesus to be your Savior, your place is in heaven. (Colossians 1:13-114). 

When we profess our faith, Jesus delivers us from the powers of darkness and brings us into the Kingdom of God. Our redemption covers us in His blood, and we are forgiven of all sins, past, present, and future.

Jesus is the gospel, the good news of salvation, a salvation that can only be found in his saving grace.

May God bless you, Amen

[1] Strong, James. The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Red letter ed. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 5055, 2010.