Perhaps no words bring me to my knees more than – “It is finished”. 

John says in his Gospel (John 19:30) that these were the last words of our Christ as he died on the Cross. D.L. Moody once said, “When He shouted on the cross, “It is finished!” it was the shout of a conqueror. He had overcome every enemy. He had met sin and death. He had met every foe that you and I have got to meet, and had come off victor.” I love these words because with this statemtn, Jesus’ earthly ministry ends and three days later He rises to a new day.

King David’s prophecy of Jesus’ agony and despair on the cross is contained in the first half of Psalm 22. The second half of this great Psalm prophesies the triumph of the resurrection and Jesus’ resulting praise for God.

22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever!

– Psalm 22:22-26

David’s prophecy in this passage is interesting to me because it is so human. I can picture Jesus saying this or maybe even singing this after He rolls the stone away, His thoughts still fresh from the crucifixion, His body still showing the scars. Praise Him! Honor Him! Revere Him!

In the very next section, David’s prophecy of the resurrection turns to the future and he has Jesus thinking about what will happen when we all will praise God.

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

– Psalm 22:27-31

Today is a good day to again turn to and imitate our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us give praise that Jesus has overcome the grave! Let us thank God for His faithfulness for “He has not hidden His face, but has listened to our cry”! And then, let us turn towards the future when we know that all knees will bow and all tongues will praise Jesus because He is worthy, He died for our sins and He made us into His Church.

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash