If you are around me very long, you will know that I am a little crazy. In fact, I am officially a part of two groups that normal people don’t belong to: Half Fanatics & Marathon Maniacs. They help drive my passion for running and achieving crazy things. This past weekend, I ran two Half marathons. That’s 13.1 miles each. I ran the Run Bentonville Half Marathon on Saturday and the Hogeye Half on Sunday.
One of the greatest things about running a race of any distance is seeing the finish line. You know that you only have a finite amount of time left and then you will be done. You will hear those great words or speak them yourself…
It is finished!
Jesus used those same words as He came to the end of his earthly life. He had been tried and convicted by a joke of a court and was suffering death by crucifixion. Even though He had the power to call off His own execution, Jesus gladly went to the cross for me and you to serve as that final sacrifice needed for eternal life. He suffered immensely for our sake and at the end of the His suffering we find the words of John 19:30…
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (HCSB)
This phrase in the original language tells us that the debt has been fully paid. What debt? Each of us are born sinners in need of a savior. In Romans 3:23, the Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (HCSB) In the Old Testament, God directed the children of Israel to offer blood sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. In the New Testament, we find that one final sacrifice was needed. That was Jesus. Jesus had lived a perfect and sinless life and gave Himself up as that final sacrifice that would allow us to be in a right relationship with the Father. His statement here is one of completion. He had run His race and was done.
When I finish a race, I often think, “Never again!” But it never fails… A few weeks later and I am ready to get out there and try again. I have the burning desire to achieve and prove myself. When Jesus uttered those words “It is finished,” He knew that there was no more to achieve. He had run His PERFECT race. The work was done. It was complete and our debt was paid.
However, a question remains. What will we do with His great gift?