It is finished.
These were the final words spoken by our Messiah—Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and our Savior—as He gave His life on the cross. Today, I invite you to pause and reflect with me as we read through John chapters 19 and 20—the powerful story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
In that moment, when Jesus declared “It is finished,” something eternal happened.
For centuries, humanity tried to cover sin through the blood of lambs—temporary sacrifices that could never fully redeem us. But when Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, shed His blood, He paid the price once and for all.
Every fear.
Every broken hope.
Every failure.
Every sickness.
Every burden humanity had tried to carry and fix—He finished it.
Through His sacrifice, we now have access to the fruit of the Spirit:
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Love
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Joy
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Peace
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Patience
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Kindness
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Goodness
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Faithfulness
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Gentleness
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Self-control
He paid the price so we could receive these gifts freely. Out of pure love, God sent His only Son to redeem His people. Jesus came so we wouldn’t have to bear the weight of sin and shame on our own.
The Greatest Day in History: John 20
Now let’s read together from John chapter 20—the story of the resurrection.
"Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb."
She ran to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple—the one whom Jesus loved—saying:
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb. The other disciple arrived first but didn’t go in. Peter entered and saw the linen cloths lying there—and the face cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, folded and set aside.
Then the other disciple entered, saw, and believed.
Though they hadn’t yet understood the Scriptures fully—that Jesus must rise from the dead—the evidence was before them. And then… came the most beautiful encounter.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Mary stood outside the tomb, weeping. As she looked inside, she saw two angels in white.
“Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked.
“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,” she replied.
Turning around, she saw a man she assumed was the gardener. But then He spoke her name:
“Mary.”
Instantly, she knew.
It was Jesus.
“Rabboni!” she cried out—meaning Teacher.
Jesus told her not to cling to Him, for He had not yet ascended to the Father. But He gave her a mission—to go and tell the others that He was alive.
Mary Magdalene became the first person to see the resurrected Christ.
The first witness.
The first messenger of the greatest news the world has ever known: He is risen.
Victory Over Death
Jesus defeated death. Once and for all.
He who knew no sin became sin so that we could be free.
For three days, He fought for our redemption. He fought for a new covenant built on love, grace, and eternal hope. He carried every burden:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Lust
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Selfishness
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Condemnation
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Disease
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Hatred
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Despair
All of it—nailed to the cross and buried in the grave.
But death could not hold Him. He rose again so we could walk in healing, freedom, and victory.
“It Is Finished”
As we reflect this Easter season, let’s hold fast to this truth:
The price is paid in full.
We don’t have to strive. We don’t have to live in shame. We don’t have to carry what He already finished.
Jesus loves us with a love so profound, so perfect, that He gave everything—His own life—for us. Even in His perfection, He chose to die so that we could truly live.
Final Thoughts
Let’s remember this Easter that:
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Our sins are forgiven.
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Our healing is secured.
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Our hope is alive.
We are redeemed. We are loved. And we are victorious—not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did.
“It is finished.”
God bless you all this Easter,
and may your heart rest in the fullness of His love.
Happy Easter. 🌿