Teaching Tuesday: Dying Breaths - Mission Accomplished

Series: Dying Breaths
Sermon: "I thirst." + "It is finished." (John 19:28-30
Watch the messages HERE. 

Our text from this past Sunday’s sermon was from the Gospel of John, 19:28-30. Read it again here, slowly: 

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

There are few moments in all of history as powerful, as weighty, or as eternally significant as the final breaths of Jesus on the cross. In John 19:30, Jesus utters three of the most important words ever spoken: “It is finished.” These words are not a cry of defeat, but a declaration of victory—final, complete, and irreversible.

Jesus had come into the world with a mission: to seek and save the lost, to bear the sin of humanity, and to reconcile us to the Father. Every miracle he performed, every lesson he taught, and every step he took led to this moment. And when he spoke those final words, he wasn’t saying, “I am finished,” but rather, the work - the mission - is finished. The Greek word used here, tetelestai, was often written across receipts and contracts in the ancient world to mean “paid in full.”

This wasn’t the tragic end of a good man’s life. It was the triumphant conclusion of the greatest act of love the world has ever known. The debt of sin—yours, mine, and all humanity’s—was settled that day. Jesus bore it all. There was nothing left to be done, nothing to be added. Redemption was complete.

Notice, too, the intentionality of Jesus' final moments. John writes that Jesus, “knowing that everything had now been finished,” fulfills Scripture even in his thirst. He wasn't a victim of circumstance—he was in control, fulfilling every prophecy down to the smallest detail, demonstrating that he truly was the Messiah.

When we reflect on the cross, we’re not merely looking back at a historical event—we are standing before the very center of our faith. “It is finished” means that our salvation does not rest in our performance, our striving, or our perfection. It rests in Christ alone.

So, what does that mean for us today?

It means we can rest in the grace of God. It means the shame and guilt of our past no longer have the final word. It means we don’t need to prove ourselves worthy—because Jesus already made us worthy by his sacrifice. It means we can live free: free to love, free to serve, and free to follow him with joy, not fear.

Take time today to sit with those three words: “It is finished.” Let them speak to your soul. Let them remind you that your debt is paid, your hope is secure, and your Savior reigns—even from a cross.TO KNOW HIM AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN!

- Pastor Brady