David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

It is finished.

John 19:28-30

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

A Jerusalem Cross - Five crosses, signifying the five wounds inflicted on Jesus at his crucifixion: hands, feet, and side.
A Jerusalem Cross – Five crosses, signifying the five wounds inflicted on Jesus at his crucifixion: hands, feet, and side.

It is finished. The suffering, the pain, the work of our redemption, the fulfilling of the law, the 33 year ordeal of humility, the law with it’s condemning demands, the perfect obedience to his Father’s will, the prophecies and allusions of the Old Testament, and his life, our salvation’s purchase: All were finished that Friday afternoon nearly 2000 years ago. As someone else put it: the foundational aspect of the atonement from which all other aspects come forth, or…everything regarding what the Father placed upon the Son to complete.

It is finished. There it stands. Now. Not “will be.” Not “should be.” We live in the eternal now of Jesus’  redeeming work. We do not buy this gift on an installment plan. It is not on layaway. There is no loan paperwork to fill out. We don’t get a little bit of redemption now and a little bit of grace tomorrow. The perfect tense of the word, “tetelestai” indicates something completely complete. Tetelestai is in the perfect passive indicative form of the verb. It means that something is completed with enduring effect or state.  “It is [has been] put into a continuous state of being accomplished.” Or put another way, “It stands completed.”

It is finished. Paid off: our sin’s debt. Ended: all that Jesus had come to do. Complete: nothing more needs to be done. Our faith apprehends what has already been accomplished. We add nothing to Jesus’ suffering and death. Over: his suffering; Jesus will suffer no more. PAID IN FULL.

On this day we recall Jesus’ suffering and death. On this day we acknowledge the weight of our sin. On this day we thank God for the victory of perfect faithfulness, submission, love, and grace. On this day 2000 years ago Jesus said, “It is finished.” This was no mournful concession. This was Jesus’ cry of victory. On this day and every day we do well to live in and live out this reality.

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One response to “It is finished.”

  1. joshuamuchiri Avatar
    joshuamuchiri

    At the cross the debt and death was overcome.now new being.

    Reply

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