“It is finished!” (John 19:30)

[LoveYeshua]

When Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV), He was on the cross in His final moments before giving up His spirit. This short but powerful statement holds deep meaning. To understand it fully, we must consider what Jesus had come to do, how His life fulfilled Scripture, and what this moment signified both for heaven and earth.

The full verse reads:

“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, NKJV)

This declaration was not one of defeat, but of completion—like a builder laying down his tools after the last stone is set in place, or like a priest completing the final step of a holy sacrifice. It was the cry of victory. Jesus had accomplished everything the Father had sent Him to do.

Let’s look deeper into what He meant.

He Finished the Work the Father Gave Him​

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had said:

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34, NKJV)

And again in prayer to the Father:

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4, NKJV)

Jesus’ mission was to make the Father known, to bring truth and light to the world, to call sinners to repentance, to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and finally to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. All of that was now completed. He had lived a sinless life, kept every commandment of God without fault, resisted every temptation, and taught the people the words of eternal life.

He Fulfilled All the Prophecies​

Jesus’ death fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the suffering of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 53 said:

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities… the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5–6, NKJV)

Psalm 22 also gives a picture of the crucifixion:

“They pierced My hands and My feet... They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:16, 18, NKJV)

Everything that was written about the Christ—His betrayal, His unjust trial, the mocking, the beating, the piercing, even His thirst—had now come to pass. Just before saying “It is finished,” Jesus had cried out “I thirst,” and the soldiers gave Him sour wine. John tells us:

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’” (John 19:28, NKJV)

So when He said “It is finished,” it meant that all the prophetic words had been fulfilled to the letter.

He Offered the Perfect Sacrifice for Sin​

Jesus was the final and complete offering for sin. Under the Law of Moses, the people brought sacrifices—lambs, goats, bulls—to be offered as atonement for sin. But these sacrifices had to be repeated again and again, because they could not take away sin fully. They pointed forward to a greater sacrifice—the one that Jesus came to make.

John the Baptist had said of Him:

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NKJV)

When Jesus died, He was not just suffering as an innocent man. He was laying down His life willingly, as the spotless Lamb. He said:

“I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.” (John 10:17–18, NKJV)

And so, when He said “It is finished,” He was declaring that the offering had been made—the final, perfect sacrifice was now complete. The price of sin was paid. Nothing more needed to be added.

He Conquered the Power of Sin and Death​

In that moment, Jesus also broke the power of the enemy. Satan, who held people in fear of death and bondage to sin, was now overcome by the obedience of the Son. Jesus said before:

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12:31, NKJV)

And by dying without sin, Jesus disarmed the devil and removed his claim over the human soul. He opened the way for those who believe to be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to the Father.

The Veil Was Torn: A New Way Was Opened​

At the very moment Jesus died, something happened in the temple:

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51, NKJV)

This veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place—the place where God's presence dwelled, and where only the high priest could go once a year. The tearing of the veil meant that access to God was now open through Jesus. He had become the new and living way.
No more animal sacrifices, no more earthly priests. Jesus had opened the way for all to come to the Father through Him. He said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, NKJV)

​

He Fulfilled the Law and Made a New Covenant​

Jesus did not abolish the Law; He fulfilled it. He said:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”(Matthew 5:17, NKJV)

By living without sin and keeping the Law perfectly, He fulfilled all righteousness. And by shedding His blood, He established the New Covenant—the promise of forgiveness, new life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He said at the Last Supper:

“This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, NKJV)

So, when Jesus said “It is finished,” He was saying that the Old Covenant had reached its goal, and the New Covenant had been sealed with His blood.

In that one cry, “It is finished!”—Jesus declared victory over sin, fulfilled all prophecy, completed the work of salvation, tore down the veil between man and God, defeated Satan’s claim, and opened the way to eternal life. It was not a sigh of despair—it was a royal proclamation, the voice of the King declaring that the mission was complete. Nothing more needed to be added. The path of redemption was opened forever for all who would believe and follow Him.

 

[Webers_Home]

.
I suspect we're missing something here because the language and grammar
of these two verses appears to be out of sync;

● John 17:4 . . I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.

● John 19:30 . . So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said: It is
finished.

It's almost as if we're looking at two finishes instead of one because
John 17:4 was completed prior to Jesus' crucifixion whereas John 19:30
was completed during his crucifixion.
_

 

[Eternally Grateful]

the words literally mean paid in full..

the greek word used was a legal term used by the court system to note that a person had paid their debt,

So when Jesus said tetelesti, he literally said the payment for all mankind was accomplished..

 

[LoveYeshua]

.
I suspect we're missing something here because the language and grammar
of these two verses appears to be out of sync;

● John 17:4 . . I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.

● John 19:30 . . So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said: It is
finished.

It's almost as if we're looking at two finishes instead of one because
John 17:4 was completed prior to Jesus' crucifixion whereas John 19:30
was completed during his crucifixion.
_

Remember Jesus being one with GOD and a prophet knew all things, He is the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus knew he would finish the works God sent him to do.

 

[ScottA]

When Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV), He was on the cross in His final moments before giving up His spirit. This short but powerful statement holds deep meaning. To understand it fully, we must consider what Jesus had come to do, how His life fulfilled Scripture, and what this moment signified both for heaven and earth.

The full verse reads:

This declaration was not one of defeat, but of completion—like a builder laying down his tools after the last stone is set in place, or like a priest completing the final step of a holy sacrifice. It was the cry of victory. Jesus had accomplished everything the Father had sent Him to do.

Let’s look deeper into what He meant.

He Finished the Work the Father Gave Him​

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had said:

And again in prayer to the Father:

Jesus’ mission was to make the Father known, to bring truth and light to the world, to call sinners to repentance, to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and finally to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. All of that was now completed. He had lived a sinless life, kept every commandment of God without fault, resisted every temptation, and taught the people the words of eternal life.

He Fulfilled All the Prophecies​

Jesus’ death fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the suffering of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 53 said:

Psalm 22 also gives a picture of the crucifixion:

Everything that was written about the Christ—His betrayal, His unjust trial, the mocking, the beating, the piercing, even His thirst—had now come to pass. Just before saying “It is finished,” Jesus had cried out “I thirst,” and the soldiers gave Him sour wine. John tells us:

So when He said “It is finished,” it meant that all the prophetic words had been fulfilled to the letter.

He Offered the Perfect Sacrifice for Sin​

Jesus was the final and complete offering for sin. Under the Law of Moses, the people brought sacrifices—lambs, goats, bulls—to be offered as atonement for sin. But these sacrifices had to be repeated again and again, because they could not take away sin fully. They pointed forward to a greater sacrifice—the one that Jesus came to make.

John the Baptist had said of Him:

When Jesus died, He was not just suffering as an innocent man. He was laying down His life willingly, as the spotless Lamb. He said:

And so, when He said “It is finished,” He was declaring that the offering had been made—the final, perfect sacrifice was now complete. The price of sin was paid. Nothing more needed to be added.

He Conquered the Power of Sin and Death​

In that moment, Jesus also broke the power of the enemy. Satan, who held people in fear of death and bondage to sin, was now overcome by the obedience of the Son. Jesus said before:

And by dying without sin, Jesus disarmed the devil and removed his claim over the human soul. He opened the way for those who believe to be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to the Father.

The Veil Was Torn: A New Way Was Opened​

At the very moment Jesus died, something happened in the temple:

This veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place—the place where God's presence dwelled, and where only the high priest could go once a year. The tearing of the veil meant that access to God was now open through Jesus. He had become the new and living way.
No more animal sacrifices, no more earthly priests. Jesus had opened the way for all to come to the Father through Him. He said:

​

He Fulfilled the Law and Made a New Covenant​

Jesus did not abolish the Law; He fulfilled it. He said:

By living without sin and keeping the Law perfectly, He fulfilled all righteousness. And by shedding His blood, He established the New Covenant—the promise of forgiveness, new life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He said at the Last Supper:

So, when Jesus said “It is finished,” He was saying that the Old Covenant had reached its goal, and the New Covenant had been sealed with His blood.

In that one cry, “It is finished!”—Jesus declared victory over sin, fulfilled all prophecy, completed the work of salvation, tore down the veil between man and God, defeated Satan’s claim, and opened the way to eternal life. It was not a sigh of despair—it was a royal proclamation, the voice of the King declaring that the mission was complete. Nothing more needed to be added. The path of redemption was opened forever for all who would believe and follow Him.

Yes!

What is hard to fully grasp is that the moment Jesus said, "It is finished", was the infinitesimal moment of all time, the apex were all things (of all time) feeds into to become the One, or comes to fruition.

Contrary to how we view time on this God-given, would-be timeline, all time progresses from the beginning to Christ, but also from Christ to the end simultaneously. As it is written, and as He said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

In other words--there is nothing more--literally. "It is finished" speaks of all things both before and after that one single moment. Meaning, every doctrine and belief of things unfinished--is not actually true--except in us who yet walk out our own part. Which is also hard to fully grasp, because as it is written and as He said, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be"--He meant it quite literally. That the former Beginning, and the beginning of the Church--are "as" one another. Each is an infancy, then building and growing unto that climatic point of "It is finished." Which does not mean all was not finished, but rather that it was--because that was the apex or vortex, or axis, or center. Was. Which is to say, that the days before Christ all lead up to Christ, and seemingly the beginning of the Church age all leads up to the same climatic moment--each progressing forward to an event that actually happened in the middle. Therefore, it is written and He said, speaking of the would-be reverse of things that "were" instead of "will be"--"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." Notice the "but" in those explanations made by Jesus. That is because the hourglass of the times of the gentiles and the Church, though they seem to run the same direction as all of history seems to flow, these times too flow in the direction of Christ and "It is finished." We end up back then. And our last days, are very much like the last days of Israel, leading up to the crucifixion. But also "as the days of Noah" our days just fade out of existence.

Talk about "confusion!"

Who among us has not imagined that we who live in these last days have actually had an advantage with all that is written, all that is at our fingertips? But has God actually shown us more, and treated us better than He did Israel? Is that what we should think--that we therefore are the wiser, and somehow immune to the intentional "confusion" God has placed upon "all language?" Have we been so foolish? We have! And if what I have just explained does not turn your world view upside down--count yourself among the worst of us. Because "God is no respecter of persons" means, no, but we have no advantage, even if we think we have.

So...speaking of "It is finished"--we have our own part of that finish to face--and it is now upon us.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

When Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV), He was on the cross in His final moments before giving up His spirit. This short but powerful statement holds deep meaning. To understand it fully, we must consider what Jesus had come to do, how His life fulfilled Scripture, and what this moment signified both for heaven and earth.

The full verse reads:

This declaration was not one of defeat, but of completion—like a builder laying down his tools after the last stone is set in place, or like a priest completing the final step of a holy sacrifice. It was the cry of victory. Jesus had accomplished everything the Father had sent Him to do.

Let’s look deeper into what He meant.

He Finished the Work the Father Gave Him​

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had said:

And again in prayer to the Father:

Jesus’ mission was to make the Father known, to bring truth and light to the world, to call sinners to repentance, to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and finally to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. All of that was now completed. He had lived a sinless life, kept every commandment of God without fault, resisted every temptation, and taught the people the words of eternal life.

He Fulfilled All the Prophecies​

Jesus’ death fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the suffering of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 53 said:

Psalm 22 also gives a picture of the crucifixion:

Everything that was written about the Christ—His betrayal, His unjust trial, the mocking, the beating, the piercing, even His thirst—had now come to pass. Just before saying “It is finished,” Jesus had cried out “I thirst,” and the soldiers gave Him sour wine. John tells us:

So when He said “It is finished,” it meant that all the prophetic words had been fulfilled to the letter.

He Offered the Perfect Sacrifice for Sin​

Jesus was the final and complete offering for sin. Under the Law of Moses, the people brought sacrifices—lambs, goats, bulls—to be offered as atonement for sin. But these sacrifices had to be repeated again and again, because they could not take away sin fully. They pointed forward to a greater sacrifice—the one that Jesus came to make.

John the Baptist had said of Him:

When Jesus died, He was not just suffering as an innocent man. He was laying down His life willingly, as the spotless Lamb. He said:

And so, when He said “It is finished,” He was declaring that the offering had been made—the final, perfect sacrifice was now complete. The price of sin was paid. Nothing more needed to be added.

He Conquered the Power of Sin and Death​

In that moment, Jesus also broke the power of the enemy. Satan, who held people in fear of death and bondage to sin, was now overcome by the obedience of the Son. Jesus said before:

And by dying without sin, Jesus disarmed the devil and removed his claim over the human soul. He opened the way for those who believe to be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to the Father.

The Veil Was Torn: A New Way Was Opened​

At the very moment Jesus died, something happened in the temple:

This veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place—the place where God's presence dwelled, and where only the high priest could go once a year. The tearing of the veil meant that access to God was now open through Jesus. He had become the new and living way.
No more animal sacrifices, no more earthly priests. Jesus had opened the way for all to come to the Father through Him. He said:

​

He Fulfilled the Law and Made a New Covenant​

Jesus did not abolish the Law; He fulfilled it. He said:

By living without sin and keeping the Law perfectly, He fulfilled all righteousness. And by shedding His blood, He established the New Covenant—the promise of forgiveness, new life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He said at the Last Supper:

So, when Jesus said “It is finished,” He was saying that the Old Covenant had reached its goal, and the New Covenant had been sealed with His blood.

In that one cry, “It is finished!”—Jesus declared victory over sin, fulfilled all prophecy, completed the work of salvation, tore down the veil between man and God, defeated Satan’s claim, and opened the way to eternal life. It was not a sigh of despair—it was a royal proclamation, the voice of the King declaring that the mission was complete. Nothing more needed to be added. The path of redemption was opened forever for all who would believe and follow Him.

All these things are true, ut you over reach.

Keep it in context. When jesus was on teh cross, He became sin for us and God teh Father punished Jesus as sin!

When He cried "it is finished" it simply meant that the price of sin was paid in full.

That carries all teh implications you write, but it meant that there is now no other payment for sin acceptable to the Father.

 

[ScottA]

.
I suspect we're missing something here because the language and grammar
of these two verses appears to be out of sync;

● John 17:4 . . I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.

● John 19:30 . . So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said: It is
finished.

It's almost as if we're looking at two finishes instead of one because
John 17:4 was completed prior to Jesus' crucifixion whereas John 19:30
was completed during his crucifixion.
_

Your perception is correct (as it should be), but the two are one. That double image is what one should see standing in the middle and looking both ways. Very perceptive!

 

[LoveYeshua]

All these things are true, ut you over reach.

Keep it in context. When jesus was on teh cross, He became sin for us and God teh Father punished Jesus as sin!

When He cried "it is finished" it simply meant that the price of sin was paid in full.

That carries all teh implications you write, but it meant that there is now no other payment for sin acceptable to the Father.

I don't like "became sin for us" but i know its from scripture. Rather he atoned for humanity's sins. for me personally i think it demeaning to say Jesus became sin. God did not punish Jesus, rather Jesus willingly gave His life for us, as there is no greater love than this act;

Jhn 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jhn 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

We should not let this great act of Love for us go to waste. We should honour Jesus sacrifice for us by doing what he commands us to do.

 

[David in NJ]

When Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30, NKJV), He was on the cross in His final moments before giving up His spirit. This short but powerful statement holds deep meaning. To understand it fully, we must consider what Jesus had come to do, how His life fulfilled Scripture, and what this moment signified both for heaven and earth.

The full verse reads:

This declaration was not one of defeat, but of completion—like a builder laying down his tools after the last stone is set in place, or like a priest completing the final step of a holy sacrifice. It was the cry of victory. Jesus had accomplished everything the Father had sent Him to do.

Let’s look deeper into what He meant.

He Finished the Work the Father Gave Him​

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had said:

And again in prayer to the Father:

Jesus’ mission was to make the Father known, to bring truth and light to the world, to call sinners to repentance, to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, and finally to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. All of that was now completed. He had lived a sinless life, kept every commandment of God without fault, resisted every temptation, and taught the people the words of eternal life.

He Fulfilled All the Prophecies​

Jesus’ death fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the suffering of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 53 said:

Psalm 22 also gives a picture of the crucifixion:

Everything that was written about the Christ—His betrayal, His unjust trial, the mocking, the beating, the piercing, even His thirst—had now come to pass. Just before saying “It is finished,” Jesus had cried out “I thirst,” and the soldiers gave Him sour wine. John tells us:

So when He said “It is finished,” it meant that all the prophetic words had been fulfilled to the letter.

He Offered the Perfect Sacrifice for Sin​

Jesus was the final and complete offering for sin. Under the Law of Moses, the people brought sacrifices—lambs, goats, bulls—to be offered as atonement for sin. But these sacrifices had to be repeated again and again, because they could not take away sin fully. They pointed forward to a greater sacrifice—the one that Jesus came to make.

John the Baptist had said of Him:

When Jesus died, He was not just suffering as an innocent man. He was laying down His life willingly, as the spotless Lamb. He said:

And so, when He said “It is finished,” He was declaring that the offering had been made—the final, perfect sacrifice was now complete. The price of sin was paid. Nothing more needed to be added.

He Conquered the Power of Sin and Death​

In that moment, Jesus also broke the power of the enemy. Satan, who held people in fear of death and bondage to sin, was now overcome by the obedience of the Son. Jesus said before:

And by dying without sin, Jesus disarmed the devil and removed his claim over the human soul. He opened the way for those who believe to be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to the Father.

The Veil Was Torn: A New Way Was Opened​

At the very moment Jesus died, something happened in the temple:

This veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place—the place where God's presence dwelled, and where only the high priest could go once a year. The tearing of the veil meant that access to God was now open through Jesus. He had become the new and living way.
No more animal sacrifices, no more earthly priests. Jesus had opened the way for all to come to the Father through Him. He said:

​

He Fulfilled the Law and Made a New Covenant​

Jesus did not abolish the Law; He fulfilled it. He said:

By living without sin and keeping the Law perfectly, He fulfilled all righteousness. And by shedding His blood, He established the New Covenant—the promise of forgiveness, new life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He said at the Last Supper:

So, when Jesus said “It is finished,” He was saying that the Old Covenant had reached its goal, and the New Covenant had been sealed with His blood.

In that one cry, “It is finished!”—Jesus declared victory over sin, fulfilled all prophecy, completed the work of salvation, tore down the veil between man and God, defeated Satan’s claim, and opened the way to eternal life. It was not a sigh of despair—it was a royal proclamation, the voice of the King declaring that the mission was complete. Nothing more needed to be added. The path of redemption was opened forever for all who would believe and follow Him.

My work is both physically demanding(draining on the body) and dangerous(potential for serious injury and death present).

When i successfully FINISH/COMPLETE the Mission = It is RICHLY REWARDING within my soul.

1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I don't like "became sin for us" but i know its from scripture. Rather he atoned for humanity's sins. for me personally i think it demeaning to say Jesus became sin. God did not punish Jesus, rather Jesus willingly gave His life for us, as there is no greater love than this act;

Jhn 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jhn 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

We should not let this great act of Love for us go to waste. We should honour Jesus sacrifice for us by doing what he commands us to do.

We should rejoice that Jesus became ourt sin and the Father punished HIm as our sin. No Jesus did njot atone for teh sins fo the world.

He became the propitiation for the sins of the world. this means He ius the acceptable sacrifice for sin. Atonement means to erase and remove sin, and this is limjited to only those who receive HIm by faith.

The Father did punish Jesus as our sin. In the midst of Him being on the cross, He cried out "Eloi,Eloi, Lama Sabacthani" My god My god why have you utterly abandoned me.!!!!

Jesus suffered in those three hours what all men will have had to suffer for eternity if they reject Him.

 

[LoveYeshua]

We should rejoice that Jesus became ourt sin and the Father punished HIm as our sin. No Jesus did njot atone for teh sins fo the world.

He became the propitiation for the sins of the world. this means He ius the acceptable sacrifice for sin. Atonement means to erase and remove sin, and this is limjited to only those who receive HIm by faith.

The Father did punish Jesus as our sin. In the midst of Him being on the cross, He cried out "Eloi,Eloi, Lama Sabacthani" My god My god why have you utterly abandoned me.!!!!

Jesus suffered in those three hours what all men will have had to suffer for eternity if they reject Him.

Ronald, I see it very differently. You believe Jesus was made sin and that the Father punished Him as our sin. But was Jesus actually sin? And did the Father really abandon Him?

When Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” He was quoting Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” We have to remember that Jesus often used the Scriptures this way. He knew the Psalms and used them to point people to what was being fulfilled before their eyes.

Jesus was not saying that the Father had literally rejected Him or stopped loving Him. He was pointing us to Psalm 22, and when you read the whole Psalm, something very important becomes clear. It begins with the words Jesus spoke from the cross, but it goes on to describe the suffering of the righteous one, the mocking of his enemies, his hands and feet being pierced, his garments being divided and lots being cast for them. Then the Psalm turns from suffering to deliverance and ends with God's righteousness being declared.

And look at Psalm 22:24: “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.”

So the very Psalm Jesus quoted tells us that God did not finally hide His face from the afflicted one. God heard him.

This is why I don't believe Jesus' words on the cross should be used as proof or suggesting that the Father abandoned Him and punished Him as though Jesus Himself were guilty. Jesus was showing us through the Psalm what was happening to Him and where it would end.

Jesus had already said: “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32) And when He was about to die, He said: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Jesus never became sin. He remained the righteous and Holy Son of God. Peter said of Him: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)

Jesus certainly died for our sins. John the Baptist said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) And John wrote that Jesus is “the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

So I believe we should be careful not to say more than Scripture says. Jesus bore our sins, suffered because of our sins, and gave His life as the sacrifice for sin. But that does not mean Jesus became sinful or that the Father punished Him as though Jesus Himself were guilty.

Jesus was innocent. He willingly gave His life. Even while dying, He placed Himself into His Father's hands. And the Father did not abandon His Son. He raised Him from the dead.

The words Jesus spoke from the cross make much more sense when we read the whole Psalm He was quoting. He was not declaring that His Father had rejected Him. He was pointing us to the Scriptures that testified beforehand of His suffering, and also of His victory and the righteousness of God.

below, I removed the numbering in the text to make it easier to read. Cheers.

Psalm 22

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

 

[David in NJ]

Ronald, I see it very differently. You believe Jesus was made sin and that the Father punished Him as our sin. But was Jesus actually sin? And did the Father really abandon Him?

When Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” He was quoting Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” We have to remember that Jesus often used the Scriptures this way. He knew the Psalms and used them to point people to what was being fulfilled before their eyes.

Jesus was not saying that the Father had literally rejected Him or stopped loving Him. He was pointing us to Psalm 22, and when you read the whole Psalm, something very important becomes clear. It begins with the words Jesus spoke from the cross, but it goes on to describe the suffering of the righteous one, the mocking of his enemies, his hands and feet being pierced, his garments being divided and lots being cast for them. Then the Psalm turns from suffering to deliverance and ends with God's righteousness being declared.

And look at Psalm 22:24: “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.”

So the very Psalm Jesus quoted tells us that God did not finally hide His face from the afflicted one. God heard him.

This is why I don't believe Jesus' words on the cross should be used as proof or suggesting that the Father abandoned Him and punished Him as though Jesus Himself were guilty. Jesus was showing us through the Psalm what was happening to Him and where it would end.

Jesus had already said: “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32) And when He was about to die, He said: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Jesus never became sin. He remained the righteous and Holy Son of God. Peter said of Him: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)

Jesus certainly died for our sins. John the Baptist said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) And John wrote that Jesus is “the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

So I believe we should be careful not to say more than Scripture says. Jesus bore our sins, suffered because of our sins, and gave His life as the sacrifice for sin. But that does not mean Jesus became sinful or that the Father punished Him as though Jesus Himself were guilty.

Jesus was innocent. He willingly gave His life. Even while dying, He placed Himself into His Father's hands. And the Father did not abandon His Son. He raised Him from the dead.

The words Jesus spoke from the cross make much more sense when we read the whole Psalm He was quoting. He was not declaring that His Father had rejected Him. He was pointing us to the Scriptures that testified beforehand of His suffering, and also of His victory and the righteousness of God.

below, I removed the numbering in the text to make it easier to read. Cheers.

Psalm 22

To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

100% my Brother in YAHshua