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It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Lesson Objective: Those who complete this study might realize the victory won at the cross. No longer does sin hold sway over the hearts of men. Jesus has stamped "Paid In Full" across the debt our sin accrued.

Prayer Focus: Pray that each of the people in your group might come to know that their sins have been forgiven. They no longer have to carry the burden or stigma of guilt.

Lesson
Victory obtained
The agony is almost over. Three men have been hanging on crosses for almost six hours. It is a brutal means of execution. The condemned surely won't last much longer. The man on the center cross, Jesus of Nazareth, looks out through a mask of blood and sweat. His eyes survey the angry mass of humanity. He carries the weight of sin -- their sin -- on his back. The more they rail and accuse him, the more compassion pours forth from his heart. Physically, Jesus is about spent. Spiritually, he endures the separation from his Father brought about by sin. He has become sin for those who committed sin. Now, at last, it's over. He cries in a voice of triumph, "It is finished!"

"What is finished?" you ask. Several possible answers come to mind. The agony of the crucifixion is almost complete. The pain of the nails in his hands and feet is nearly done. The struggle to suck in oxygen is about over. Is that what Jesus meant when he said, "It is finished"? Did he mean the struggles of life on this earth? The skirmishes with the Pharisees and teachers of the law, dealing with demons, death, and disease, facing rejection and the derision of men, is that what was finished?

While both of these things are nearly over, neither of them is what Jesus meant by "It is finished." Look closely at these words. In Greek, it is one word: tetelestai. The word was used quite frequently on receipts. It simply meant, "paid in full." Jesus' cry of "It is finished" had very little to do with his physical or even spiritual suffering. It was about his work. The mission of atoning for the sins of the world is complete. The "sin debt" is paid. The receipt is signed in his blood.

After finishing his task, Jesus entrusts his life into the hands of the one in whom we all must trust. He says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." His work is finished. He is bloodied, beaten, and battered, but not broken. He will not lose his life. He will not be killed. No. He will surrender his life willingly. It is his choice and he chooses to die. Sin has been paid in high wages. In a voice of triumph, Jesus declares, "It is finished." Now, he is ready to die.

Victory observed
The debt of sin that you and I owe and cannot pay has been covered. Jesus took the fall. He paid the price. Victory over sin, victory over death, and victory over Satan have been obtained. No longer do we need to fear death. No longer must we tote bags of guilt, shame, and remorse. Jesus has set us free. "If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Because of Jesus, we have won. The sad part? There are many who don't know that we've won.

Sometimes the news travels slowly. The Civil War was clearly one of this nation's most difficult and painful times. Thousands perished in the battle between the states. I'm no great historian, but I did run across an interesting piece of information. It was on April 9, 1865, that General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, essentially ending the war. It wasn't until May 26, 1865, that the last Confederate soldiers in the eastern theater surrendered. It wasn't until June that General Edmund Kirby-Smith surrendered in the western theater! Did you catch that? Weeks of fighting continued in the west because the message that the war was over hadn't reached them.

Has the message reached you? You are no longer a slave to sin. The chains of guilt and regret that bound you have been broken. The victory has been won!

Victory offered
The echo of the seven words uttered from the middle cross lingers in our minds. Forgiveness is sought. Compassion is shown. A second chance is offered. Humanity is revealed and the consequences of sin are unmasked. Victory is won.

What does that mean for you? These seven words were spoken first at the Place of the Skull just outside of Jerusalem. Now, they are spoken to you. What is your response to these seven last words? Will you receive the victory?

Conclusion
Henry Morris wrote, "The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity." What Jesus did at Calvary on Good Friday paid the sin-debt of all humankind. What Jesus did at the tomb on Easter morning opened the way back to God. He conquered death and the grave so that we might have victory. The choice is yours.

Suggested Songs And Hymns
"Victory In Jesus"
"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"
"Up From The Grave He Arose"
"He Lives"


Thought/Discussion Questions

1. What is significant about Jesus' statement, "It is finished"? Why do you find it important?


2. Earlier on the cross, Jesus exclaimed, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" and now he says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." What transpired here? How could he say the first and then the second?


3. What does the victory mean to you? How does it relate to your life?


4. Do you think some people continue to "battle," not knowing the victory is won? Why do they do it?