† John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished (Gr. teleo: completed, executed, finished), that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished (teleo): and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

In part 1 we covered what the meaning of “it” is to be understood as by many examples of what He had accomplished (“finished”).

In part 2 the meaning of “is”, as it is to be understood by His followers throughout the ages, is that all that He “accomplished” (said “is finished”) is real-time-relevant and second-by-second powerful from the very moment of His death on the cross and through the end His 1,000 year reign upon the earth, which is to come.

What Jesus did for us is always present-tense and never to be allowed to slip in the past tense of the yester-years of history and its relevance forgotten by us. We see this ever so clearly in the statement “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” and in the many other places in our bibles where the term “is come” is often used.

Now this Greek word interpreted as “accomplished” (v. 28) and “finished” (v. 30) is slightly different than other Greek words that come into the English language as “finish” or “finished”. In looking at other instances of these English words in our KJV Bibles from their Greek meaning, I discovered that there are several words in the ancient language that generally all mean the same but more or less have to do with slight differences in the mood of the context.

“It” (all the things that Jesus lived-out, taught, corrected the Jew’s understanding of, and that actions He took including and especially going to the cross as the sinless Lamb of God) “is” (the perpetual-present-tense effect and availability of these things; the every second ‘now’ truth and power of them) “finished” (completed, fulfilled).

But not just by happenstance or some random checklist of things Jesus thought were a good idea to do but because they were by the command of the Father given to the Son.

God spoke the contents of all that needed to be done by His Son (long before He came in human form) [to be done] while He was on the earth; these things of the “it” were God’s will, what must be done (each and every one), and what would please the Father (Isaiah 53).

Jesus came and did what He declared from the cross were now “finished” by the command of God the Father.

(I remind you the Bible says, that “His word will accomplish that which it is sent forth to do” [Is. 55:11], and that “He sent His word and healed them” [Ps. 107:20], and in another place “and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” [John 1:14].)

Jesus was committed to obeying what His Father had commanded and was obedient even unto death.

How long ago were the things to be accomplished by Jesus commanded by God and what else do we see in the Word that Jesus’ mission was in fact the command of the Father implied by the word “teleo”?

† Revelation 13:6 And he [antichrist]opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

† John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will (decree) of him that sent me, and to finish his work ... 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me ... 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

† Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will (decree) be done.

† Philippians 2:7 [Jesus] ...made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

From this word “finished ‘ (teleo) we need to understand that we are called to walk in committed obedience to what God commands of us, too. Let me mention just a few things what we are commanded to do and to take it to its full completion:

• Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

† Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

† 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on (have faith in, entrust, commit to) the name of his Son Jesus Christ. . .

† John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will (determination) of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of [the decree] God.

† John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God [what God wants you to do], that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

• Live by faith in God

† Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

† Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him ... 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

• Walk in love

† John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another ... 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you ... 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

† 1 John 3:23 [John reminds us:]. . . love one another, as he gave us commandment.

† 2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. . .

• Forgive

† Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye ... 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors ... 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

† Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

• Stop sinning and quickly and sincerely repent when we have

† John 5:14 [At the pool of Bethesda:] Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (also Jn. 8:11).

† 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. . .

† 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

† 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

† 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of. . .

By a steadfast commitment to God and His ways and our consistent discipleship disciplines, we are to obey what God’s Word commands of us also. If we will, we will endure to the end and be saved, and we, too, will be able to say as the Apostle Paul said—this:

† 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished (teleo) my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

( WHAT WAS “FINISHED” BY JESUS )

In closing, I remind you of what was “finished” by Jesus;
the meaning of “it” is to be understood at least as these things:

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• Jesus was born, lived and died sinless (a requirement to be the Savior)
• He upheld the Word; He fulfilled the Law and the what the prophets had said about Him and what He would do
• He completed a work that no mere man could have done
• Had taken the punishment for our sin, provided the means to cleanse us from our sin by His sinless blood, when He died on the cross He put to death your and my old sin nature of the man, and He defeated the devil
• He proved God’s love for us by His life and by His going to the cross
• “It”, the mission (the work) the Father had given Him, was completed
• Now by Jesus and in Him all the promises of God are now ours

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The meaning of “is”, as it is to be understood by His followers throughout the ages, is that all that He “accomplished” (said “is finished”) is real-time-relevant and second-by-second powerful, is always present-tense and never to be allowed to slip in the past tense of the yester-years of history and forgotten.

We should never forget that “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”!

What was the result for Jesus because He finished what God had commanded for His to do? Many are the outcomes of His obedience but let us remember these:

† Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (completer, consummator) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ... 1 [Therefore!] ... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 3 [And never forget] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

† Philippians 2:9 ...God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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And the results (eternal benefits and blessings) for His followers that walk in obedience to the Word of God? That is the subject for another time!

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