Spirit and Life Devotional is a daily publication by Pastor Chinaemerem Ibezim, senior pastor of Able Ministers Chapel, a church based in Calabar, Cross River State.
“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.” – John 19:30 NLT
When Jesus said that it was finished, what exactly did He mean? We get the answer in verse 28 of the same chapter: “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty.’” So when He said that it was finished, He meant that His mission to the earth was completed.
So what was His mission? Again it is revealed in the Scriptures. In John 12:27, Jesus said, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” He was talking about His death. So, He came to die as a sacrifice for our sins. That’s His first mission. Again, in John 18:37, Jesus said to Pilate, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” So we see a second mission; to bear witness to the truth. The truth about what? Everything. Then we read again in 1 John 3:8 that the purpose the Son of God was manifested, was that “He might destroy the works of the devil.”
So when you think about Jesus coming to the world these three important things should come to mind. Now, don’t let His coming be in vain in your life. There’s no reason at all for you to be a victim of the devil or to suffer any form of bondage. Jesus destroyed the works of the devil! You shouldn’t also be living in deception and be a victim of manipulation and error because Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. The truth about God, His ways, His expectations, His love, etc. Finally, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. He paid the wages of sin and the effects of sin, which is death (all forms of death – including sickness, poverty & sorrow).
By virtue of what Jesus did we are completely free and have peace with God, if we remain in Him. Jesus did it all; there’s nothing else for us to do! He finished His assignment, and now all we have to do is believe and enjoy His grace. Hallelujah!
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