It is Finished!

Today in our reading (John 19:17-30) we have the privilege of considering the masterpiece of Jesus as a man. It is painted with bloody gruesome colors, but it is glazed with love so amazing that weeks of meditation could not assimilate the beauty.  As women we melt to hear Jesus' final, painfully uttered care for His mother: "When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' "

As children of the Father, we are touched by Jesus' attention to every detail of prophecy and also His childlike, very human request, "I am thirsty". 

But the last triumphant cry frames the whole picture in gold: "It is finished"! 

Yes, yes, yes - it is done, completed, sealed forever - the gift of salvation to all. As Jesus gave His life (you notice nothing or no one took it but He gave of His own will), He bestowed on us the offer of life with Him forever. The rest of the work, raising up the masterpiece, would be thrillingly completed by the Father in a couple of days.  

So let us today stand amazed  at this wonderfully finished work of our Savior.