The Fulfillment

The Fulfillment

John 19:28-30, 36-37, NLT

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. . . . 36These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37and “They will look on the one they pierced.”

Setting the Scene

Jesus had carried out his mission (John 17:4), so he surrendered his life to his Father. Jesus fulfilled Scripture when he expressed his thirst and was given the soaked sponge (see Psalm 42:2 and Psalm 69:21). This “sour wine” was not the same as the drugged wine offered to Jesus earlier, which he had refused (Mark 15:23).

The Greek word tetelestai translated as “it is finished” actually means “it is accomplished,” “it is fulfilled,” or “it is paid in full.” Jesus’ death accomplished redemption and fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies. Until Jesus sacrificed himself at the Cross, sin could be atoned only through a complicated system of sacrifices. With his death, that sacrificial system ended, because Jesus took all sin upon himself.

When the soldiers pierced Jesus with a spear instead of breaking his legs (John 19:33-34), they fulfilled two biblical prophecies. Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 speak of the bones of the Passover lamb that should not be broken. Because Jesus was the final sacrifice, those verses apply to him. Also, Zechariah 12:10 (NLT) states, “They will look on me whom they have pierced” (see also Revelation 1:7).

Christ finished his work at the Cross, fully accomplishing our salvation, paying in full our debt.

Getting Personal

Why do people have difficulty understanding and accepting that they are saved by grace and not by works?

When did you come to realize how the work of Christ at the Cross paid your debt in full and made you complete?

Why do you, at times, act as if your relationship with God depends on what you do for him?

We are saved by grace (undeserved favor or love) alone through faith alone. We can’t earn our forgiveness; we can’t work our way to heaven. And we can’t add anything to what Christ has done. It is finished. Yet many believers act as if their salvation depends on them. We don’t gain God’s favor by keeping commandments. Instead, obedience should flow out of our love for Christ as we understand what he has done for us and that we belong to him. Jesus did the “work” of salvation—completely fulfilled, totally finished!

Talking to God

What little we have to offer in comparison to what he has given! Thank God that your position in his family doesn’t depend on your own righteous behavior but on the perfect behavior of Jesus, the sacrificed Lamb. Thank him for the grace that has saved you.