--WHY DID JESUS SAY 'IT IS FINISHED?'/ WHAT WAS FINISHED?

--IT IS FINISHED!
-(JOHN 19:30)--

--OUR SAVIOR SPOKE seven times while He was crucified on Calvary's Cross on that first Good Friday. Shortly before Jesus died, He said, "It is finished."

--While it is true that the life of Jesus was coming to an end, there is much more meaning to these words. Jesus is telling us that His mission has been accomplished! What was His mission? Why did He leave Heaven and live on Earth for thirty three years? How was His mission accomplished through His death?

If we do not know why Jesus came to Earth and that He did it for us, we would still be in our sins with no hope for this life and the life to come. We would be "of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Jesus Himself states His mission: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). The Father sent Jesus on His mission: Jesus accepted the mission, left Heaven, became like us (except He was sinless Philippians 2:6-8), lived a perfect life as our substitute (Galatians 3:13), and suffered and died for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5).

His seemingly impossible mission has been accomplished! What comfort and assurance we have to know His mission has been completed for us!

"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."-(Hebrews 9:22) Jesus died in our place. He paid our sin-debt! --"JESUS PAID IT ALL"/ Kristian Stanfill~<https://youtu.be/-FHwdx5BIvc>
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--THE GREATER STORY~~

"In those days
Caesar Augustus
issued a decree
that a census
should be taken of
the entire
Roman world."
--(LUKE 2:1)--

--CAESAR AUGUST is remembered as the first and greatest of the Roman emperors. By political skill and military power he eliminated his enemies, expanded the empire, and lifted Rome from the clutter of rundown neighborhoods into a city of marble statues and temples. Adoring Roman citizens referred to Augusts as the divine father and savior of the human race. As his forty-year reign cam to an end, his official last words were, "I found Rome a city of clay but left it a city of marble."

What Augustus didn't know is that he'd been given a supporting role in a bigger story. In the shadow of his reign, the Son of a carpenter was born to reveal something far greater than any Roman military victory, temple, stadium, or palace (LUKE 2:1).

But who could have understood the glory Jesus prayed for on the night His countrymen demanded His crucifixion by Roman executioners? (JOHN 17:4-5). Who could have foreseen the hidden wonder of a sacrifice that would be forever applauded in Heaven and Earth?

It's quite a story. Our God found us chasing foolish dreams and fighting among ourselves. He left us singing together about an old rugged Cross, the Cross Jesus died on for the forgiveness of our sins. ~~

--THE GLORY WE NEED IS THE GLORY OF HIS CROSS. ~~
--ODB/MD-- "The Wondrous Cross"/ Christy Nockels~~

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--ADOPTED = YOU ARE MORE THAN SAVED, YOU ARE LOVED!

--"God sent his Son
...that we might
receive adoption
to sonship."
--(Galatians 4:1-7)--

--We have been adopted by the Creator of the Universe. We couldn't complain if God had merely loved us enough to send His Son that we might "not perish but have eternal life" (JOHN 3:16). It would be enough for us. But not for God. He "sent his Son...to redeem" us, not as an end in itself but "that we might receive adoption to sonship" (text).

The apostle Paul refers to us as "son" because in his day it was common for sons to inherit their father's wealth. His point is that now everyone who puts their faith in Jesus, whether man or woman, becomes a "son" of God with equal and full rights of inheritance. (V.7)

God does not merely want to save you. He wants you. He has adopted you into His family, given you His name (Revelation 3:12), and proudly calls you His child. You could not possibly be loved more, or by anyone more important. You aren't merely blessed by God,...you are the child of God. Your Father loves you. Jesus Christ died for us so we can spend eternity with Him. Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." Jesus came to earth to save us.

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (his) child. Because you are His (child) sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Jesus died on the Cross to pay our sin-debt. The debt required pure and untainted blood. Jesus was sinless. He NEVER sinned. That is the only way we could make it into Heaven. Yes, it is FINISHED! GIVE HIM PRAISE! Our Redeemer Lives!
---(GALATIANS 4:4-7)

--WHY DID JESUS SAY, "IT IS FINISHED?"

-Jesus paid our sin-debt by dying on the Cross. JESUS DIDN'T QUIT! He completed the age long penalty for sin, our sins.
Don't think Jesus wasn't tempted to quit. . Watch Him wince a He hears his apostles backbite and quarrel. Look at him weep as He sits at Lazarus's tomb or hear Jesus wail as he digs at the earth with his hands in the ground of Gethsemane.

Did He even want to quit? You bet.
That's why Jesus' words are so splendid.
--"IT IS FINISHED!"

Stop and listen. Can you imagine the cry from the Cross? The sky is dark. The other two victims are moaning. The jeering mouths are silent. Perhaps there is thunder. Perhaps there is weeping. Perhaps there is silence. Then Jesus draws in a deep breath, pushes his feet down on that Roman nail, and cries. "IT IS FINISHED!"

What was finished? The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The message of God to man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on Earth were finished. The task of selecting and training ambassadors was finished. The job was complete. The song had been sung. The blood had been poured. The sacrifice had been made. The sting of death had been removed. It was over. Jesus defeated death!
A cry of defeat? Hardly. Had his hands not been fastened down, I dare say that a triumphant fist would have punched the dark sky. No, this is no cry of despair. It is a cry of completion. A cry of VICTORY!

The Fighter remained. Jesus is alive right now! And thank God that He did. Thank God that He endured. He did it for you. He did it for me. Now it's up to each one of us to accept His 'gift of salvation', made only by repentance, asking forgiveness, and asking Jesus to come live in our lives. He never turns away a sincere seeker. "Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved."




---------

---THE TORN VEIL~~

"We have confidence
to enter the Most
Holy Place by the
blood of Jesus, by
a new and living way
opened for us
through the curtain,
that is, His body."
--(Hebrews 10:19-20)--

---IT WAS a dark and somber day in the outskirts of Jerusalem. On a hill just outside the city walls, a Man who'd been attracting crowds of eager followers for the past three years hung in disgrace and pain on a rough wooden Cross. Mourners wept and wailed in sorrow. The light of the sun no longer brightened the afternoon sky. And the intense suffering of the Man on the Cross ended when He cried out in a loud voice, "It is finished" (Matthew 27:50; John 19:30).

At that very moment, another sound came from the great temple across town--the sound of ripping fabric. Miraculously, without human intervention, the hugs, thick veil that separated the outer temple from the holy of holies tore in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).

That torn curtain symbolized the reality of the Cross; a new way was now open to God! Jesus, the Man on the Cross, had shed His blood as the last sacrifice--the one true and sufficient sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10)--which allows all who believe in Him to enjoy forgiveness and enter into a relationship with God (Romans 5:6-11).

Amidst the darkness of that original Good Friday, we received the best news ever--Jesus opened a way for us to be saved from our sins and to experience fellowship with God forever (Hebrews (10:19-22).
"Thank You, God for the message of the torn veil! Thank You, Jesus for dying in our place and nailing all our sins to Your Cross of Calvary. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Yahweh = YHWH! JESUS IS ALIVE!
--[We will be celebrating Good Friday= April 19, 2019. Give Him Praise. JESUS IS ALIVE! ]
--ODB/DB ~--"Transfiguration"/ - Hillsong Worship ~--
-----------------

--IT IS FINISHED!

When Jesus died on the Cross at Calvary, He said, "It is finished!" What was finished?
Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for (our) sin. He died for you. He died for me! He paid our sin-debt by dying on the Cross!
Jesus conquered the grave. He defeated death! Death could not hold Him. He's ALIVE RIGHT NOW!

He did not die because He sinned. Jesus never sinned. He is GOD-MAN. He could not sin. In John Chapter 19: verse 30, "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "IT IS FINISHED!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." -- / ---- JESUS IS ALIVE!

THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON! Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross. Not only did He die, but He rose from the grave. JESUS IS ALIVE RIGHT NOW! Talk to Him. Pray to Him. Tell Him you love Him. He's coming back soon and we must be ready at all times. He could come at any time.
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
"For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
"For 'Whoever will can on the Name of the Lord Jesus will be saved." --(Romans 10: 9, 10, 13) DO IT NOW!

--"IT IS FINISHED" / PASSION / (Melodie Malone)~~--<https://youtu.be/QkxcGLID3Y8>
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--JESUS PAID OUR SIN-DEBT! Give Him Praise!

--"FIND ME AT THE FEET OF JESUS!" -(Christy Nockels)

--Where is Jesus right now? Right now Jesus is at the right hand of Father God, interceeding for us.
--(Please Read/ HEBREWS 7:22-28)-- Christ's High Priestly Intercession~-

Jesus never sinned. The perfect Lamb of God came to earth to die. Why? To pay our sin-debt. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."
<https://youtu.be/5wUJVt7U1L0>
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-----WE HAVE BEEN RESCUED!

--"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
--He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."
---(Colossians 1:13-15 / NASB) --

~~We have become so accustomed to seeing evil in our world that I’m not sure we understand how insidious and destructive it is. Television, movies, and music are filled with examples of evil being justified and glorified and celebrated. Know this: Evil is in exact opposition to the character of God. The “dominion of darkness” is in complete conflict with the “Kingdom of the Son.”

Apart from Jesus’ intervention, we were slaves to evil. Evil owned us and destined us to destruction. Apart from the grace, mercy, kindness, and love of God, we were under the authority and dominion of evil. There was nothing we could do to rectify that situation. God in His kindness sent His Son to rescue us from that “dominion of darkness” and bring us into His Kingdom. We don’t gather in our church buildings because we imagine that we are perfect. We gather as an expression of gratitude for what God has done on our behalf in rescuing us from certain destruction.

THINK ABOUT IT
~~Becoming desensitized to evil fosters complacency and compromise, with attitudes and actions that grieve the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to the things that break His heart.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You for delivering me from the “dominion of darkness” through Jesus Christ. Forgive me of complacent participation with anything that opposes Your character, that I might be salt and light in this generation. Lord, please open our eyes to see You for who you truly are, the Creator of all things. (Vs. 16-20). In Jesus’ name, amen."

Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
--[SONG="God of the Ages" / Written by/ Travis Doucette from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA]--"God Of The Ages" / Charles Billingsley /<https://youtu.be/YnM3lc-LyzY>
~~~~~~

--Jesus said, "It is finished." He completed the work of dying on the Cross, defeating the devil and now risen, alive, with the Father! HE'S ALIVE NOW!

---Jesus came to Earth to complete the work of His Father, to die on the Cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. After Jesus died on the Cross He rose from the grave and is now seated at the right hand of Father God. Upon His death, He said, "It is finished." However, He is with all believers spiritually. Jesus is alive today! He is with each person who believes that He is the Son of God. Please, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do it today. [Read / Romans 10 verses 9,10,13]

--"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast." --(Ephesians 2 verses 8-9) ~~
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--"As it is, there are many parts, but one body --[1 Corinthians 12 verse 20/ NIV]

---A friend of mine told me about her trip to Papua New Guinea. She and her husband had a marvelous time. But she described seeing stray dogs everywhere. Because none of the animals are spayed or neutered, they have pups over and over. It's a problem that touched her deeply.

She wanted to investigate ways to address the stray dog problem and make a difference. But she bemoaned her efforts as such a small thing to do.

We do that, don't we? We want to make a difference in the world in a big way. Maybe even in a way others will see or admire. I pointed out, "You should help where your passions are strongest. Then you will make a difference."

Like my friend, I want to make a difference. But my passion seems small: encouraging others. For me, that means sending cards to friends facing tough times. I often wonder if it helps. In this digital age, sending a card in the mail means I don't get an immediate response. It's very difference from someone clicking "Like" on social media in response to something I just posted.

But the other day I found out what those cards can mean. I'd sent my friend going through chemotherapy a Superman card. It was just to remind him: "Your cape is showing! You are amazing!" Turns out the card arrived on the very day he was facing a new diagnosis and needed some extra encouragement. Yes, my card was silly, bus sometimes that's the point.

We all don't see the same problems in the world, but we all have a passion for something. Take the one thing you care most about and see how much good will come from your response. When we take on the concerns closest to our hearts we certainly make a difference. As Jesus reminds us, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." ~~

--Daily Guideposts/LB~ / --"GIVE ME JESUS"/ Jeremy Camp / <https://youtu.be/r-JuoGyADNA>
~~~~~~~~~

---"THANKS BE TO GOD!"
---By Robert Morgan

~~“Thanks be to God!”—Wouldn’t it be great to engrave that phrase on the lintels of our minds? How wonderful to recognize every blessing God sends, and, as it comes our way, to say, “Thanks be to God!”

Gratitude is the attitude that reclaims our spirits in times of disappointment or distress. However bleak our circumstances, we can always find reasons to say: “Thanks be to God.” That little phrase can bear us through difficulty and lift us from defeat. Last year, for example, the remains of Christians slain in Libya were returned to their families in Egypt. The father of one of the victims said of his son, “Thanks be to God, he died a hero. … He and his brothers, the martyrs, did not abandon their faith.”

The phrase is especially powerful because it is Biblical. It appears five times in the consecutive books of Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, expressing thanks to God for setting us free; for victory over sin and death; for spreading His message through us; and for Jesus, His indescribable gift!

Let’s go through life with this phrase engraved in our minds. A grateful heart lifts our spirits, honors our Savior, frustrates our enemy and magnifies our influence. Whatever you’re going through today, take a deep breath, look to Jesus, count your blessings, and say often: “Thanks be to God!”
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["For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our FAITH.
~~~~~~~~~
"Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
"This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are One.
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself, he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son.
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life."-[1 John 5:4-12/ KJV]

"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true and we are in Him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the the true God, and eternal life." (vs.20 /KJV)
--HALLELUJAH! The battle is over! JESUS CONQUERED THE GRAVE! IT IS FINISHED! JESUS IS ALIVE!