LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
"Consummated is"
When our Lord uttered His last words on the cross of Calvary, the so-called "groans of the cross", He gave us a glimpse of the depth of the work He was accomplishing there in His death.
Let us briefly consider among those "groans" the expression "It is finished". The Greek word used in John 19:30 is tetelestai. This was a term in common use among the people of that time, and expresses a rich range of meanings. At least four classes of people commonly used it.
The merchants used this expression to declare a debt paid, issuing for it to the debtor a receipt with the word tetelestai, which means "canceled". The apostle Paul tells us that our Lord annulled the decree of debts that was contrary to us by nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14). What a tremendous price paid!
The Jewish priests also used it after examining the sacrifices to be offered, declaring them "without blemish". Our Lord was examined by the religious and political authorities, and one of them declared: "I find no fault in him". What a perfect sacrifice! Our Lord "entered into the Holy of Holies, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption".
The servants also used it to communicate to their masters the completion of a service that had been entrusted to them. The meaning of tetelestai here is "finished". In his prayer to the Father, our Lord says: "I have glorified you on earth; I have finished the work which you gave me to do". The word "finish" here in John 17:4 is also tetelestai. How great is our assurance in hearing the Son of God Himself declare that His work is finished, and that in nothing can it be diminished!
And it was also used by artists. For example, when a painter, on finishing a canvas, took some distance from it to observe it, he could declare: Tetelestai, because there was his beautiful work completed. Our Lord made us "his workmanship" (the word here is 'poem', which is also a work of art). We were created in Christ Jesus "for good works". The church became God's art gallery, where he expresses now and in the future his manifold wisdom, because of the work consummated on the cross of Calvary.
What a great privilege for us, sinners destitute of God's glory, to have been made the works of his own hands! The Lord grant that our eyes may be enlightened to see more of his glory, of the glory of his finished work on the cross, and of "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints".