Why did Jesus say "it is finished?"

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Scott Hahn’s meditation on the 4th cup, making the links between the Last Supper and Calvary, makes an interesting interpretation of this passage.
we have an on-going thread someplace on the 7 last words of Christ, which has some good links and explanations.
 
Yeah! I was listening to his CD on my way to work today.
Here is a shorter version of his talk:
Calvary really began in the Old Testament Passover being celebrated in the Upper Room, when the Eucharist was instituted and the Passover Eucharist of the New Covenant really isn’t over until Calvary, when He says, “It is finished.”
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source: The Institution of the Eucharist in Scripture by Scott Hahn
ewtn.com/faith/Teachings/euchc2.htm
 
I have a teacher in RCIA who tells us she isn’t please with this translation, and that a more accurate translation (found in some Bibles) is “It is consumated.” Which of course has entirely different connotations and meanings than “It is finished.”

Just another reason to learn ancient languages…😛
 
The very last thing that Jesus said on the cross was “it is finished,” By saying this Jesus was saying that the work of salvation for us, has been completed. This is a phrase that was used during the Bible times to conclude a business transaction. When someone would buy something from someone else or when an agreement was made between two parties, it was sealed with this phrase, meaning that the transaction is completed. The product is sold. When Jesus made this statement, He was saying to us all, that everything needed for our salvation has been accomplished and payed for. Our sin debt has been payed for, Roman 6:23. Because God has finished the work of salvation for us He can now offer salvation to us as a free gift.

Suppose a friend brought you a nice gift from a vacation they took, and you would not take it unless you paid for it. Your friend would be offended because they were trying to do something nice for you. The same thing is true about our salvation. God has payed for our salvation with the blood and death of Christ on the cross. Because our salvation has been payed for us by God, He is free to offer it to us as a gift. When we try to pay for our salvation through good works it is an affront to God who has ALREADY payed the price for us for this gift of Salvation. We do not have to pay for a free gift. We do have to accept this gift by faith though. This why the gospel is a “whosoever” gospel. Whosoever will may come and accept the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ alone John 3:16. When we by faith accept this free gift of eternal life we are guarenteed heaven. Salvation is not a work that man does trying to earn that gift. Salvation is a work of God for man and not a work of man hoping to buy something that is priceless. :amen:
 
Ummm… DLC…NO!

It is finished, used in the same context as it is consummated is referring to the fulfillment of the Old covenant by Jesus’s death in atonement for the breaking of the covenant, and the establishment of the new covenant… Life in Christ. If DLC’s version were correct, these verses would be worthless:
DR Bible:
Luke17: 1 And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come. 2 It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
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DR Bible:
Matthew 7: 21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
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Salvation is not assured just by believing or professing at one time. Salvation is a lifelong process that we can hope for but not have absolute assurance of.
 
DLC said:
The very last thing that Jesus said on the cross was “it is finished,” By saying this Jesus was saying that the work of salvation for us, has been completed.
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Remember that when He said that He wasn’t dead and thus not yet resurrected. So, it is not finished regarding the Redemption.

If Jesus had died and never raised from the dead Himself, Satan would’ve won and the Redemption was not done!

Fortunately, He resurrected; thus, the apostles believe and their faith continues on until today. 😉
 
DLC said:
The very last thing that Jesus said on the cross was “it is finished,” By saying this Jesus was saying that the work of salvation for us, has been completed. This is a phrase that was used during the Bible times to conclude a business transaction. When someone would buy something from someone else or when an agreement was made between two parties, it was sealed with this phrase, meaning that the transaction is completed. The product is sold.
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Finished transaction?? OOPS! Jesus must have forgotten that He had said this. He still needed to rise from the dead. And you know what? I think He did. 😉

Typology is quite thinned out in protestant theology. Understanding the Last Supper and how Jesus sang the final song before consuming the fourth cup indicates the tie to the meal and the Cross where He consumes the fourth cup. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to understand how “bible thumpers” miss the whole foreshadowings contained within the Hebrew Scriptures. They seem to be so hung up on “faith alone” which the bible never teaches.

The words “It is finished” are transitional in the passing from the old covenant to the new. Then the curtain in the temple tore from top to bottom. More typology!!! God Bless 🙂
 
vince2paul said:
Any interpretation for this?
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St. Augustine, in his tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 119 (John 19:24-30), says:
6. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished.” What, but all that prophecy had foretold so long before? And then, because nothing now remained that still required to be done before He died, as if He, who had power to lay down His life and to take it up again, had at length completed all for whose completion He was waiting, “He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” Who can thus sleep when he pleases, as Jesus died when He pleased? Who is there that thus puts off his garment when he pleases, as He put off His flesh at His pleasure? Who is there that thus departs when he pleases, as He departed this life at His pleasure? How great the power, to be hoped for or dreaded, that must be His as judge, if such was the power He exhibited as a dying man!
 
Thanks all…

I was asked this question recently and glad to be able to find this thread. 😃
 
In Jn 19:28, St. John said everything was finished. What was finished ? What scripture was fulfilled ? All the Passover language from the Old Testament that pointed to Jesus. Jesus then proceeded to say, “I thirst.” Verse 29, has this hyssop that held the sponge with vinegar (sour wine, in Greek, oxos ) on it. This happens to be the same reed used to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel back in the Passover.
(Ex 12:22) In Jn 19:30, Jesus words from the cross was, “ It is finished “ In older translations of the scriptures it states that Jesus said, “ It is consummated .” The 4th cup was of the Passover was called the ‘Cup of Consummation.’ These were the same Hebrew words that were prayed over the last cup in the context of the Passover ! It’s been said that the ‘ It is finished’ was said to mean that nothing else need be done, that what was finished is the redemptive work of Christ. True ! His redemptive work has to be applied to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s been stated that by being obedient & continuing to abide in Christ is adding to His finished work. Not so ! Was there anything else that Jesus needed to do ? Yes ! In Rom 4:25, St. Paul states that Jesus had to be resurrected ! Many say you have to accept Jesus as personal Lord & Savior. Isn’t that doing something ?

May God Bless, Static ( 1 Tim 1:15 )
 
DLC said:
The very last thing that Jesus said on the cross was “it is finished,” By saying this Jesus was saying that the work of salvation for us, has been completed. This is a phrase that was used during the Bible times to conclude a business transaction.
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Hi, DLC!
This is an excellent import–it supplements Scriptures with Jesus’ contemporary usage terms.
When we try to pay for our salvation through good works it is an affront to God who has ALREADY payed the price for us for this gift of Salvation.
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…this part I do not get; who’s trying to pay for salvation?

Maran atha!

Angel
 
DLC said:
When we by faith accept this free gift of eternal life we are guarenteed heaven.
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Hi, DLC!

…sorry… after reading an objection to your post… I reread it and realized I did not do a thorough job the first time…

Are you suggesting that philosophy of the “once saved credo?”

Maran atha!

Angel
 
By the way, all who know Jesus as their personal Savior by faith alone in Christ, are Saints. That is what the Bible teaches.
1 Cor 1:2

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus,saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
NASU

Rom 16:15-16
15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all thesaints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
NASU

Eph 1:1-2
To thesaints who are at Ephesus andwho are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NASU

Col 1:2

2 To thesaints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
NASU

1 Thess 3:12-4:1
just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all Hissaints.

NASU

Philem 4-6
you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all thesaints; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective
NASU

Heb 6:10-11
0 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to thesaints.
NASU

Jude 3-4

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to thesaints.
NASU
 
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