The statement “It is finished” uttered by Jesus Christ on the cross is found in John 19:30. This simple phrase has profound significance and meaning for all believers. When Jesus said “It is finished”, He meant that His work of salvation was now complete and the debt for sin was paid in full. Here is an explanation of the significance behind Christ’s powerful last words.
1. Jesus’ Work of Atonement was Completed
Most importantly, Jesus’ cry of “It is finished” meant that His work of atonement was now accomplished. The reason Jesus came to earth was to die on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for sin (John 12:27). Isaiah 53:5 prophesied that the Messiah would be “pierced for our transgressions” and bear the punishment that brought us peace. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He gave His life on the cross. His shed blood was the price of atonement. As He died, Jesus knew His suffering and sacrifice was enough to fully pay this atonement price for all sin. Nothing else needed to be done. Salvation was now complete.
Jesus’ final words declared that the atonement was finished once and for all. Hebrews 10:10 confirms this saying, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” No more sacrifices or good works were needed to pay for sin. No more suffering was required. By His one sacrifice, Jesus “made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). The atoning work of Christ was accomplished and finished on the cross.
2. The Prophecies about Jesus’ Death were Fulfilled
By shouting “It is finished”, Jesus declared that He had fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies about the suffering Savior. Throughout His life, Jesus repeatedly showed how He was fulfilling prophecies from the Old Testament about the Messiah (Luke 18:31; Luke 24:44-46). This included prophecies about how the Messiah would die. For example, Psalm 22 vividly describes the crucifixion hundreds of years before this method of execution existed. Jesus was aware that He was fulfilling these prophecies during His final hours. By the end, every detail had come to pass just as God planned. Nothing more needed to happen. By accomplishing all that Scripture foretold about His death, Jesus was able to shout in victory, “It is finished!”
Another prophecy Jesus fulfilled was Isaiah 53:12 which said the Messiah would “pour out his life unto death” and be “numbered with the transgressors.” Jesus knew He perfectly fulfilled this verse when He died between two criminals (Luke 23:33). Even smaller details like Psalms 69:21’s mention of gall and vinegar were accomplished. Jesus’ final cry declares that every single prophecy from His betrayal to His burial was now completed right on schedule.
3. Jesus’ Suffering was Complete
Jesus’ words also declare that His suffering was finished. Isaish 53 prophesied that the Messiah would be “a man of suffering” who would bear the iniquities of all (Isaiah 53:3,6,11). The night before His death, Jesus told His disciples that He was “deeply troubled” and His soul was overwhelmed to the point of death as He anticipated what was to come (Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34). He had been born for this purpose of dying as the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
But Jesus endured this suffering willingly for the joy set before Him (Heb 12:2). Now His pain, distress, rejection and abandonment was finished. Christ had been scorned, beaten, crucified and forsaken, but now He had survived. No more lashes would fall. No more insults would be hurled. No more nails would pierce His hands and feet. No more would He be mocked and treated with contempt. No more bitterness of the cup of suffering remained for Jesus to drink. He had drunk the cup to the last drop. After crying “It is finished”, He could now rest in peace knowing His pain was completed.
4. Satan was Defeated Decisively
By dying as an atoning sacrifice, Jesus accomplished another purpose which He earlier described as being “to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Satan held the power of death and sought to use sin to enslave people in fear and condemnation (Hebrews 2:14-15). But Christ’s death disarmed Satan and pronounced the death sentence on his works (Colossians 2:15). Hebrews 2:14 says Jesus shared in flesh and blood “that through death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.”
This defeat of Satan was vividly demonstrated when Jesus cried “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and released His spirit as He breathed His last (John 19:30). Christ dismissed His spirit on His own initiative rather than letting the devil have any victory over Him. This dignified death proved that Satan could not claim Christ’s soul because the price for sin had been paid in full. Jesus had won the victory over the powers of darkness!
5. The Veil in the Temple was Torn Open
According to the Gospels, at the exact moment of Christ’s death, the heavy veil that separated the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38). Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The torn veil represented that Christ’s death opened direct access to God for all people. No longer did sacrifices made by a priest need to be offered to god. Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all. As the epistle to the Hebrews explains, Jesus was the new and living way believers could boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 10:19-22). Through Christ’s finished work, believers become priests with direct access to God (1 Peter 2:9).
Therefore, the torn veil powerfully demonstrated that Jesus’ cry of “It is finished!” meant His sacrifice applied to all and access to God was forever changed. This veil-tearing sign from God affirms that Christ’s priestly work of atonement and intercession is perfect and complete.
6. It indicated the End and Fulfillment of Christ’s Mission
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
John 19:30 emphasizes that Jesus knowingly spoke these three words before bowing His head and giving up His spirit. This indicates intentionality rather than simply making a final utterance. Jesus declared “It is finished” once He knew Scripture was accomplished, salvation was secured, His suffering was completed and Satan was defeated. This cry proclaimed His mission was now ended and fulfilled. The reason Christ came into the world was to die for sinful mankind. And now this salvation was perfectly accomplished and the task done.
Earlier Jesus had said He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). He told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected the third day (Matthew 16:21). Hebrews says Christ offered Himself once to do the Father’s will in being the sanctifying sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:5-10). All this Christ-given purpose was now fulfilled. Jesus had obediently followed God’s plan down to the last detail. Now He could victoriously proclaim this redemption mission finished.
7. Christ’s Life and Ministry were Brought to an End
The last words of Christ also signify that His earthly life and ministry had come to an end. Once Jesus declared “It is finished”, He bowed His head and handed over His spirit (John 19:30). His three-year ministry was over. His struggle against sin and Satan was complete. Finished was His work of preaching the gospel, healing the sick, casting out demons and calling sinners to repentance. Christ’s teaching ministry to the disciples was done. His perfect example of sacrificial love was established. All was now finished. His human body would die and be laid in the grave until the resurrection.
During His ministry, antagonists had repeatedly tried to seize Jesus or kill Him before His task was complete. But Jesus responded His hour had not yet come (John 2:4, John 7:30). He knew the set timespan for His earthly ministry and purpose (Hebrews 9:11). But now, all was accomplished. His hour finally came to an end and He willingly gave up His spirit. Jesus had followed God’s timing perfectly until He could victoriously declare, “It is finished!”
8. Christ’s Work of Obedience was Complete
Christ’s final cry also declared that He had finished His work of perfect obedience to the Father. Hebrews 5:8 states that Jesus “learned obedience from what He suffered.” Throughout His life, Jesus obeyed God even when tempted to take easier paths. He submitted to hardship and trials to develop godly obedience. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus chose to do the Father’s will even at great personal cost (Luke 22:42).
This obedience was proven perfect when Christ gave His life in suffering and death. Philippians 2:8 states that “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.” By willingly drinking the cup of suffering to the end, Jesus fully obeyed the Father. Nothing God commanded was left undone. Hebrews 5:9 says Christ was made perfect and became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey Him. Only through developing obedience could He become the perfect sacrifice for sins.
At the completion of this suffering path of obedience, Jesus declared His work of obedience finished. The time of testing was past. He had proven faithful and obedient to the last breath. Like a runner finishing the race, Christ could now stop running and rest in the completion of His obedience.
9. Christ’s Suffering Produced Final Sanctification
The book of Hebrews also explains how Christ was made holy through His suffering (Hebrews 5:7-9). Though already righteous, Jesus learned full obedience from what He suffered. He was then “made perfect” through this sanctifying process which qualified Him to die for sins. After being “perfected” as the unblemished sacrificial lamb, He could boldly declare “It is finished!” when the sacrifice was complete.
Similarly, Christ’s finished work also sanctifies all believers (Hebrews 10:10). His one full perfect sacrifice makes Christians holy before God for all time. Unlike the old covenant sacrifices that could never make men perfect, Christ’s finished work fully sanctifies those who believe (Hebrews 10:1). Paul described this era of Christ’s finished work as the age of “the perfect” that was ushered in by His completed sacrifice (1 Corinthians 13:10). All who identify with Christ’s finished work by faith receive His consummate holiness.
10. Christ’s Final Victory was Won
The cry of victory “It is finished!” affirms that Christ’s suffering and death were ultimately triumphant. After drinking the cup of wrath and completing His obedient suffering, He cried out loudly in the strength of victorious accomplishment. Like a warrior who boldly raises his sword after winning the battle, Jesus declared that He had overcome all His enemies and trials.
Colossians 2:15 vividly portrays Christ’s victory: “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Through the cross, Christ decisively triumphed over Satan and sin. His final shout of victory saluted this moment of conquest completed. The forces of darkness could not claim Him. The burden of sin was removed. The power of death was utterly defeated.
Although the disciples thought Jesus’ death was a tragedy, He himself perceived it as the triumphant accomplishment of His mission. Out of seeming defeat, Christ produced the most decisive spiritual victory ever won. Because of this finished victory, believers can share in His triumph over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57). We overcome because He overcame (John 16:33).
Conclusion
After examining Christ’s dying words in detail, we gain a deep appreciation of the significance behind His final cry “It is finished!” Many aspects of Christ’s mission, suffering, obedience and victory came together in the meaning conveyed through this short powerful phrase. As Jesus died for sinners, He knew that every prophecy had been fulfilled, Satan was defeated, His perfect obedience was complete and the access to God was now opened. It is no wonder that Christ’s final cry remains the most famous last words ever uttered. The work of redemption was perfected and finished once for all! Hallelujah what a Savior!