I stood with my rake in hand surveying the landscape. Weeds, as far as the eye could see. My husband and I set out this morning to scratch the earth, pulling up the unwanted weeds and preparing the soil for grass seed.
I’ll pay for it later. Every muscle in my body was used, in the effort. sweat. pain. I was eager to be finished. My husband had warned me that every square inch must be ready to invite the tiny white Bermuda grass seeds. We had to finish well or the grass seeds would be choked out… and our yard would continue to be overcome with weeds.
As I finished up in front of the house, I almost felt joy well up at the idea of completing the job. I could hardly wait for the whole thing to be done. Maybe soon, in the coming days, lush green grass would appear.
and the words came out of my mouth as I raked the last few inches of ground. “It is finished!”
The minute I said it I realized that I had quoted the defining words of Easter…
aren’t they?
Jesus, came to earth, fully human prepared to die. His role was to be the Savior of the world. But, it required being thorough. He had to die a cruel death on the cross, taking every sin and burden, all illness and disease onto Himself in order for the plan to be fulfilled. All of this had to be done for sin to be eradicated… No short cuts. No half way.
In those moments, just before his death he said, “it is finished.” It was the climax of the work He had been called to do. Three days later, He rose again – completely defeating death and hell, victorious. If any part of this Easter story had been left undone, everyone would be destined to face certain eternal darkness and death.Without His death and resurrection, sin would be able to strangle the life from the human race as we know it…
These are words from the end of the crucifixion story in John 19:
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
I enjoy Mark’s account of this portion of the resurrection story in chapter 16:
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
What does all of this mean? His thoroughness is mine to take pleasure in. His life, given for mine, my debt of sin paid. And its all because, it pleased Him to finish the work that He began.
It doesn’t end there… see John 20:
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Just as He was sent to earth by His father, now He asks me to believe and receive the Holy Spirit, sending me into the world to do His will. He needs me to be thorough, just as He was, fulfilling what he has called me to do.
no short cuts. no half-way…
And after all that He has done for me, I believe it is my pleasure…
md
daily portion 