Invocation
(Congregation Stands)
O almighty God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — we come into Your presence to seek Your mercy, to hear Your Word, and to offer up to You our prayers and praises. Hear us for the sake of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Amen.

Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto You, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3 If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning; indeed, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Confession of Sins
P: Let us confess our sins unto the Lord our God and look to Him for mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the abundant redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from all our iniquities.
C: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess to You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You in our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. We, therefore, flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
P: For the sake of Jesus’ holy life and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, I announce unto you the grace and mercy of God and proclaim to you forgiveness for all your sins through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture Lesson: John 19:17-30 (Congregation Stands)
“Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. He went out, carrying His own cross, to a place called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. The writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin. The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier; and also His tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it shall be.” This happened to fulfill the Scripture which says: “They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that time, this disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that everything was now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.” A bowl full of sour wine was placed there. So they put a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Sermon: “One word says it all!”
“After this, Jesus, knowing that everything was now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.” A bowl full of sour wine was placed there. So they put a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭28‬-‭30‬‬‬

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. That may very well be true, but sometimes, a single word can also express a truth better than a thousand, and, in one particular case, that is most certainly true.

Before He yielded up His spirit and died on the cross, Jesus uttered what is rendered as a single word in the Greek New Testament: “Tetelestai.” This single Greek word is translated with three English words: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Jesus was hanging in agony during those final moments upon the cross, his mouth dry from gasping for every breath as he lifted Himself yet another time to breathe. He asked for a drink, and after receiving sour wine on a sponge, He proclaimed what is expressed in that single Greek word, “tetelestai” — all was finished, and our salvation was won.

It is likely that Jesus uttered this in Aramaic or Hebrew rather than Greek, and though we don’t know His exact choice of a word or words, He may have used a form of the Aramaic word “shelim” which is related to the Hebrew “shalom” and would indicate that atonement had been made and peace with God had been won.

And, indeed, it was! Jesus Christ, God the Son made man, had fulfilled all that was written of Him in the Scriptures and had paid in full for the sins of the whole world! Atonement had been made. He had accomplished the redemption of all mankind. God’s just wrath against sin had been satisfied, and God’s pardon and forgiveness had been won!

What does this single word of Jesus mean for you and me? It means our sins — indeed the sins of the whole world — are paid for in full! Full atonement was made! It means that God’s favor is won! He now reaches out to us in grace and mercy for the sake of His Son and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in our stead! It means that, no matter what we have done, Jesus paid the price for our sins that we might receive through faith in Christ Jesus God’s mercy and forgiveness and a place in His everlasting kingdom!

This single word assures us that all is done and the salvation of all who trust in Jesus is sure! There is nothing we need to do or add to Jesus’ completed work! “Tetelestai!” “It is finished!” And Jesus’ resurrection on the third day proves the truthfulness of His single, dying word.

We read in Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭23 — 5:2: “Now the words, ‘it was credited to him,’ were not written for his sake only, but also for us, to whom it shall be credited if we believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our transgressions, and was raised for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and so we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Yet, sad to say, many preachers do not preach “tetelestai.” They don’t preach as though Christ paid in full and salvation is won. They may say that Jesus died for all and rose again. They may even proclaim God’s pardon and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, but then they err by adding conditions to it, by requiring their hearers to do some work or follow some set of rules and traditions before they may be saved.

Tetelestai means that our atonement is complete — Jesus paid in full when He suffered and died for our sins and rose again in victory on the third day! Our salvation is not dependent upon doing certain works, making a decision, speaking a prayer, or fulfilling the requirements of certain commandments. Our salvation is entirely dependent upon Jesus’ perfect and holy life in our stead and upon His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world, and “it is finished!”

To preach “tetelestai” is not to say, God will save you if you do this, live like this, or pray a certain prayer. Preaching “tetelestai” is to say that God has won your salvation through the death of His Son, that your sins are paid for in full and forgiveness is won, that God offers and promises to you in the Gospel pardon, forgiveness and life eternal through faith alone in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Indeed, it is finished; it is done; look in faith alone to Jesus and His sacrifice, and the salvation He won for all is yours!

The Gospel tells us that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). It tells us that “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1,2). It tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

O dearest Jesus, thank you for bearing in full the punishment for my sins when You suffered and died on the cross — for finishing all that I might through faith in Your name be acceptable in Your sight, have forgiveness for all my sins, and live with You forever in heaven. Tetelestai! It is finished! Amen.

Prayer (Congregation Stands)
Merciful Father, for the sake of the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, forgive us for failing to walk by faith in the promises of Your Word. Move us to read and study our Bibles regularly and to come before You with our petitions and praises. Keep us from being overcome by our sinful inclinations and preserve us in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

O Christ Jesus, eternal Son of God and our Savior, You gave Your life for ours when You died on the cross and made atonement for our sins. Bless the work of our pastor and congregation, and of faithful pastors, missionaries, and congregations everywhere, so that Your life-giving Word might be proclaimed among us and among the peoples of the world, and those who hear might repent of their sins and look to You and Your cross for pardon and forgiveness. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

O Holy Spirit, do not forsake us because of our weakness and disobedience to Your Word. Be patient with us and move us to continually repent of our sins and look in faith to our Savior for mercy. Teach us from Your Word. Strengthen and keep us in the true and saving faith. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

O loving and merciful God, our nation and people are living in darkness and are under Your wrath and judgment. Open the eyes and ears of our people and rulers that they might see and hear the truth of Your Word, repent of their evil deeds, and fall down at the feet of Jesus, pleading for pardon and forgiveness and then seeking to walk in Your ways, that Your judgment may be turned away and Your wrath against us be averted. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

O Healer and Preserver of our bodies and souls, as You have promised, we ask You to provide for all our needs and to preserve us from all harm and danger and all evil. We lift up to You those among us who are afflicted. We remember especially today John, Joyce, Carl, Harley, John and Karen, Tim and Diane, and all others we name in our hearts. Have mercy on us, grant healing to the sick, comfort to the oppressed, and strength for all to endure the troubles and afflictions of this life in the hope of everlasting glory for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Savior. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matt. 6:9-13)

Benediction (Num. 6:24-26)
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the LORD lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Amen.

[Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-30

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. That may very well be true, but sometimes, a single word can also express a truth better than a thousand, and, in one particular case, that is most certainly true.

Before He yielded up His spirit and died on the cross, Jesus uttered what is rendered as a single word in the Greek New Testament: “Tetelestai.” This single Greek word is translated with three English words: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Jesus was hanging in agony during those final moments upon the cross, his mouth dry from gasping for every breath as he lifted Himself yet another time to breathe. He asked for a drink, and after receiving sour wine on a sponge, He proclaimed what is expressed in that single Greek word, “tetelestai” — all was finished, and our salvation was won.

It is likely that Jesus uttered this in Aramaic or Hebrew rather than Greek, and though we don’t know His exact choice of a word or words, He may have used a form of the Aramaic word “shelim” which is related to the Hebrew “shalom” and would indicate that atonement had been made and peace with God had been won.

And, indeed, it was! Jesus Christ, God the Son made man, had fulfilled all that was written of Him in the Scriptures and had paid in full for the sins of the whole world! Atonement had been made. He had accomplished the redemption of all mankind. God’s just wrath against sin had been satisfied, and God’s pardon and forgiveness had been won!

What does this single word of Jesus mean for you and me? It means our sins — indeed the sins of the whole world — are paid for in full! Full atonement was made! It means that God’s favor is won! He now reaches out to us in grace and mercy for the sake of His Son and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in our stead! It means that, no matter what we have done, Jesus paid the price for our sins that we might receive through faith in Christ Jesus God’s mercy and forgiveness and a place in His everlasting kingdom!

This single word assures us that all is done and the salvation of all who trust in Jesus is sure! There is nothing we need to do or add to Jesus’ completed work! “Tetelestai!” “It is finished!” And Jesus’ resurrection on the third day proves the truthfulness of His single, dying word (cf. Rom. 4:23 — 5:2).

The Gospel tells us that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). It tells us that “Jesus Christ the righteous … is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1,2). It tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

O dearest Jesus, thank you for bearing in full the punishment for my sins when You suffered and died on the cross — for finishing all that I might through faith in Your name be acceptable in Your sight, have forgiveness for all my sins, and live with You forever in heaven. Tetelestai! It is finished! Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way …” the Bible says. All of us are, by nature, like lost and wandering sheep who have turned away from our true Shepherd and Maker. We have each turned aside to go our own way.

What an accurate description of mankind! Instead of following the LORD God and living in accord with His perfect will and design for us, we follow our own will and desire, go our own way and direction, and rebel against God and His Word. Instead of loving God and living for Him, we love ourselves and do as we please. Instead of listening to God’s commandments and obeying them, we shut our ears, justify our sins, and seek to establish our own compromising values in the place of His absolute truth.

Lost, wandering, and scattered sheep, each going in a different direction, well describes our world, with people wandering here and there and looking for life, happiness, and fulfillment in everything but the LORD God who created them.

“… And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” God took all our sins and all our guilt and punished them in the innocent sufferings and death of His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ! Our sins and iniquities were placed upon Jesus, and He was punished in our stead.

That is why darkness covered the earth as Jesus hung there on the cross. And that is why Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which is to say, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Though Jesus died an agonizing and horrible death on the cross because of our turning away from God and sinning against Him, the beauty in this is that all of our sins and all of our guilt have been punished in Christ Jesus. “It is finished!” Jesus cried (John 19:30). The debt of our sins is paid in full!

Therefore, through repentance and faith in Jesus, our Messiah and Savior, we can have forgiveness and life everlasting! Instead of being judged and condemned for our own sins, God judged and condemned His own holy and innocent Son and offers and gives to you and me, through faith in Christ Jesus, pardon and peace with Him. What could be more beautiful to the lost and condemned sinner?

Because Jesus suffered our just punishment and paid in full for our sins and the sins of the whole world, the gates of heaven have been opened to us. Through faith in Jesus, we can have the assurance that on the day we die, we, like the penitent thief on the cross, shall go to be with Him in paradise (cf. Luke 23:43)!

Dearest Jesus, we, like lost sheep, have turned from following You and have gone our own way and sinned against You. Thank You for bearing on the cross the just punishment for our sins and iniquities that we might be pardoned and forgiven through faith in Your name. Grant us forgiveness and life with You in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.’ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man!’ Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’” John 19:1-6a

For what crime was Jesus guilty and deserving of death? The chief priests and a majority of the Jewish council had determined He should die and arrested Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, but then, after Jesus’ arrest, they met to come up with charges against Him and could not find any agreeing witnesses against Him.

When Jesus, placed under oath, admitted to being the Son of God and the promised Messiah, they considered Him guilty of blasphemy and deserving of death but needed a different charge in their attempts to convince Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to execute Jesus, so they said Jesus claimed to be the King of the Jews and opposed paying taxes to Ceasar, contrary to Jesus’ own words (cf. Matt. 22:15-22; 26:63-66; Luke 23:1-2; John 18:33-38).

Yet, after examining Jesus, Pilate repeatedly said, “I find no fault in Him.” Jesus admitted to coming into the world to establish a spiritual kingdom made up of all who heard His words of truth and believed. But He was not seeking to overthrow Rome or establish a worldly kingdom. And Jesus’ admission that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, who would establish an everlasting kingdom and judge this world on the last day, was not blasphemy; He spoke the truth!

So, what was really going on when He was hated and condemned by His own people and rulers and then found innocent but still crucified by the Roman governor? The Old Testament Scriptures explain it.

In Isaiah 53:5-6, we read: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Jesus was not condemned and put to death for any fault in Him — He was, in fact, without sin and holy in His thoughts, desires, words, and deeds (cf. Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21). We, on the other hand, are like wayward sheep. Instead of hearing God’s Word and living according to His perfect will, we all go astray. We turn aside from following God, our true and faithful Shepherd, and go our own way and do our own thing.

But our gracious and merciful God, not desiring to condemn us, laid the guilt and condemnation of all our sins upon the holy and sinless Son of God and punished Him in our stead when He suffered and died on the cross so that we might look to Him in faith and obtain God’s mercy and pardon and receive, instead of eternal death and damnation, forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life in communion with our God and Maker.

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus had told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who became a disciple of Jesus: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

Though innocent and without sin, Jesus was condemned to die and lifted up on the cross so that you and I might acknowledge our wayward ways and look to Him and His sacrifice on the cross for mercy and forgiveness and receive, instead of the death and condemnation we deserve, the eternal joys of heaven.

Grant, O Lord, that I see Jesus’ innocence and look in faith to Him and His death on the cross as my substitute so that I may receive Your pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life in communion with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

As Isaiah prophesied some 700 years before the birth of Messiah Jesus, He bore and carried in His sinless body the curse of our sins against the LORD God. He bore our griefs and sicknesses. He carried our pains and sorrows.

Yet the people of His day, and especially the religious leaders of Israel, viewed the sufferings and death He endured as the just punishment of God upon Him for His claims to be the promised “Son of man” (Daniel 7:13-14), the Christ, the very Son of God and Savior of the world (cf. Matthew 26:63ff.). And even yet today, many still view His execution as just because of His messianic claims.

But the real reason for His wounding (literally, his piercing) was our transgression of God’s holy commandments. We have not kept God’s holy and perfect will. We have transgressed God’s commandments in our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. He was bruised and crushed — even forsaken by God the Father — upon the cross because He was bearing in His sinless body the just punishment for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the whole world (cf. Matthew 27:46).

It is as the old hymn states: “The sinless Son of God must die in sadness; the sinful child of man may live in gladness; man forfeited his life and is acquitted — God is committed” (Herzliebster Jesu, Johann Heermann, Tr. Catherine Winkworth).

The chastisement — the punishment — that we deserved on account of our sins was laid upon Him that we might be pardoned of God and forgiven. In Jesus and through His innocent sufferings and death in our stead, we have forgiveness for all our sins and peace with God our Father. The stripes we deserved were laid upon His back, and because He suffered the punishment we deserved on account of our sins, we are healed and made whole, forgiven, and cleansed!

As the Apostle John writes: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. … We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 1:7; 2:1-2).

While the world passed by the cross of Jesus, seeing only the judgment of God or that of a cruel Roman empire upon a Jewish Rabbi who dared to challenge the existing religious system of the day, Jesus, the very Son of God and promised Messiah and Savior, was suffering and dying to make atonement for the sins of the world. He was paying the price for your sins and mine that we might look to Him in faith and have pardon and peace and live forever with God our Maker!

Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the world, thank You for bearing in Your sinless body the sufferings and death I deserve because of my sins and transgressions. Grant to me pardon and forgiveness and a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]