It Is Finished – Week of April 6, 2020

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 words “It is finished” are a translation of one word in the original Greek, tetelestai. (te-TELL-i-sty) This single word means so much. It means that God’s work of our salvation is finished. It is complete. There is nothing left to be done. There is no work yet to be completed. It is finished.

This is freedom. I am secure. I do not have to worry for one second what my value is. Christ showed me that on the cross. I do not need to worry for one second where I will be in after I die. Christ earned heaven for me. I do not need to worry for one second about God’s love and care. Christ made God’s love abundantly clear on the cross. I do not need to worry for one second if more needs to be done. Tetelestai. It is finished. It is complete. I am forgiven. Period.

It is one powerful word. One, single, powerful word.

One word from you can make all the difference can it not? One word from a teacher to a students can make a world of difference. You have seen it happen, haven’t you? One word of rebuke can change the dynamics of a classroom. One word of kindness can alter a whole day by changing an attitude. Words are powerful. Even one word can be powerful.

Of course, that doesn’t always work well, does it? One word of anger can ruin a whole day too. Nor does one word always do the trick. In fact, you know that it is many words repeated over and over and over again (to the point of frustration at time) until the message gets across to some students. Jesus uttered this one powerful word before he died but he repeated the message over and over to his slow learning disciples over three years.

So don’t stop speaking. Words have power even if they do not produce immediate results. And let the last word always be forgiveness. It was Christ’s last word. Leave your children with Christ and his forgiveness. The job has been completed. They are forgiven. Nothing can change that. Not even a pandemic! It is finished. Tetelestai.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ,
Your death on the cross was the culmination of the entire story of salvation from the beginning to the end. Your perfect life and death have brought to completion our salvation. May your final word of grace from the cross be our word to our little ones.
In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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