It is finished!

It is finished. It is finished and it is accomplished. There is nothing more to do, to offer, to sacrifice, lay down. It is all there. And it is finished! Isn’t that something we like to say – it is done and over with. It really doesn’t matter what it is we think we have done we like to be able to say that it is finished.  A while back a parishioner made a beautiful table which was paid for by another family. The table has been placed in one of the churches of the parish to place offering plates and other gifts on for worship.. I never did see the table being made with my own eyes but I remember the excitement when I was told that it was finished. There were many people who were proud to see it and there was great happiness to see it. But who has ever take the time to consider what it took to get it there.

It is no different with us.  And that’s why Peter is so bold in declaring that he will go with Jesus. He wants to see things through and get things done. His own personal reasons and motivations are only somewhat clear. He wants to be with Jesus to be certain and at the same time he wants to be strong and powerful. The strength and desire he in one moment so boldly declares will in the next moment quickly evaporate because of the possibility that he might expected to follow through on his promise and actually follow Christ to the cross and die beside him.

And Judas wanted to make sure that Jesus used his power and authority to do what he (Judas) wanted. If he is arrested and threatened enough with pain and suffering; if he realizes that his will lead to his death then he will act. Jesus will be forced to use the power God has given to save himself and thereby saving the city and all the Israel. Judas had not let it enter his mind that Jesus might possibly accept and embrace what was going to happen and use it in another way. Like Peter, he was bound and determined to have things go his way. He wanted the Romans gone and to be powerful in his own country. Unlike Peter, Judas was not able to subordinate himself when Jesus expected him to and he chose his own path which would lead to his own destruction.  

And then comes those great words: “It is finished.” No a cry of the dejected man but the triumphant shout of the victor. Everything that needed to be accomplished has been done. Everything that needed to be offered has been given. And so there is one last act to perform and that is to let go into the hands of the Almighty Father, surrendering one last time. This is the moment not of sorrow but of victory. All attempts to justify one’s self have ended. All games to try and perfect one’s self have been rendered to nothing. Here at the end of the road, is the love of God for all of us on full display. What will we do with this King for a day?