Jesus Dies on the Cross

Good Friday

John 19:16b-18, 28-30 (NRSV)  Jesus Dies on the Cross

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

… After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

A few years ago I saw a proverb that read, “Cry, and you cry alone. Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Smile, and everyone wonders what you’re up to.”

How we think about the three words near the end of John’s Gospel, “It is finished,” says a lot about how we think about the rest of the Gospel and God’s kingdom.
Many people throughout the centuries have understood them as saying, “My life is over.” But Jesus’ life isn’t over; there is more to come. God is not done with Jesus’ life, or with us yet. It is true that Jesus dies on the cross. It is difficult to understand, but God truly dies. But when we hear these words, it is important to remember the beginning of John’s Gospel (“In the beginning was the Word”).
It is important because we need to remember what that Word brings. It brings the creation of the universe and everything in it. God’s Word creates us.
But the word “finished” in Greek is teleo. The teleo “finished” does not carry the hopeless, final statement death usually carries. This is more like getting the last bale made and covered, or maybe, finishing the yard work just before the rain begins. One can look back over the day and say teleo, “Well, that got done just in time.”
This understanding of teleo—finished or accomplished—conveys in Jesus’ words a much more complex, but satisfying, conclusion. They do not only speak of the end of Jesus’ life, but they point to a completion of our salvation.
Teleo provides a faithful conclusion to the first words of John (the beginning words of creation and all that is to be), just as God’s words of being finished conclude creation: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude.” (Genesis 2:1-3 NRSV)
More than that, as the fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus’ teleo “finished”, introduces the possibility of the resurrection, re-creation world, “all has been accomplished—made ready. Let’s go forth making disciples of all nations.”
As God spoke our world into creation and acknowledged the end of work each day, recognizing the work and declaring it good, so Christ on the cross surveys the world at his feet and says, “it is teleo—finished.” I can’t help but think that he smiled.

Prayer

In the midst of life and death, Lord, help us know accomplishment at the end of each day, hope for tomorrow, and joy in the present moment. Lord, help us smile so that the world wonders what you are up to. Amen