The turning point of human history was the death of Christ on the Cross. In case anyone wonders what the crucifixion was about Jesus declared its meaning with His final shout before He gave up His spirit. John witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and recorded this event. “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).
The translators render the shout as the expression, “It is finished!.” The original Greek declaration is just one word, Tetelestai. It was a common word in that culture and was used in at least three ways. When a debt was paid off tetelestai was written across the bill. It meant “paid in full.” Jesus was declaring that the cost of our salvation was completely satisfied. That is grace! Jesus paid the debt for our sins and that means that salvation is a totally free, undeserved gift.
Tetelestai was also used in the real estate market. A purchase of property was only completed after the deed was paid for, signed and dated. Then the deed was marked by tetelestai. After the deed was marked the property could be accessed by the new owner. Not only was our salvation paid for in full by Jesus, but with His death we are now able to enjoy our possession of it.
One other use of tetelestai is important. When a son was sent on a mission by his father he would submit a written report on his return home. When he wrote tetelestai on the report he acknowledged that he had accomplished all that the father had sent him to do. Jesus, with that last shout, was saying to His Father, “I have completed the mission on which You sent Me. I have provided salvation for a lost world and I have done it successfully.”
The Cross of Christ, and His last shout, stand as the culminating act of salvation that Jesus accomplished for us. It is a public announcement affirming His amazing grace.
Not to be overlooked is the symbolic event that marked the end of an era and introduced a new way of relating to God. The curtain separating us from God was torn from top to bottom. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51a). The barrier that had stood between God and us for generations was removed.
Prior to this moment only the High Priest, once a year, could go behind the curtain into he presence of God. The curtain was torn from top to bottom to show that God had ripped it apart. No human could have torn it from top to bottom. Never again would God’s presence be restricted to a limited humanity, No longer would human priests, sacrificial altars and Temple buildings be required for us to experience the presence of God. God could now be approached by everyone.
Significantly, the tearing of the Temple curtain occurred at 3:00 in the afternoon, the time of the evening sacrifice, the exact time when Jesus died. G. Campbell Morgan said that when the curtain was torn God was inviting all the world to come inside.
I never read this Scripture without remembering something my friend and pastor , David Baird, said. We were discussing this momentous day and David said, “That was the day religion died.” Thank God religion died that day and the gospel of grace was revealed to the entire world.
