When Jesus was crucified, the last word He said before He bowed His head and died, was the Greek word “tetelestai,” which means “it is finished.” Tetelestai was a common expression in Bible days, perhaps most commonly used in collecting debts. When people finally paid off their loans, they were issued a receipt stamped with the word tetelestai, as proof that the debt was now paid in full. When a prison sentence was completed, tetelestai was declared over the person’s punishment. And when an army marched home after being victorious in battle, the soldiers shouted, “Tetelestai! It is finished. The war is won.”
Every Jewish person who was in attendance the day Jesus was crucified would have instantly recognized tetelestai as a Hebrew phrase that was used in the Old Testament system of sacrifices. Each year, on the Jewish holiday called the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the temple and kill a lamb as a symbolic sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. As soon as the priest had killed the animal, he would declare to the waiting crowd in Hebrew, “It is finished.”
Jesus became the perfect and final sacrifice for all sin. Jesus, the ultimate lamb of God, by His sacrifice of dying on the cross, paid for our forgiveness. The book of Hebrews tells us Jesus did away with our sins by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26b).
So, by saying “It is finished,” Jesus signaled to the world that our debt is paid. We can be free from all of our sins. All you need to do is to admit that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins, and tell Him you want Him to be Lord of your life. Don’t put it off, do it today.
