What The Last Words of Jesus Meant and How Does it Affect Us Today?

I’ve known the Christmas story—the birth of baby Jesus in a manger—since I was a child. Year after year, we celebrated Christ’s birth. However, it wasn’t until recently that I began to grasp the profound weight of what His birth and death on the cross truly mean for the world today. The significance didn’t fully resonate with me until I started reflecting on Jesus’ final words on the cross and their deeper meaning.

It Is Finished: A Promise Fulfilled

Centuries before Jesus walked the earth, the prophets were already pointing to His coming. Isaiah talked about a suffering servant who would carry our griefs and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4-5). Zechariah described a humble King riding on a donkey to bring salvation (Zechariah 9:9). Micah even nailed down the location—Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). All these prophecies painted a picture of a Messiah who would save God’s people, not just from oppression but from the grip of sin and death itself. So now let’s address what the last words of jesus meant and how it affects us today.

Fast forward to the cross, and Jesus cries out, “Tetelestai” (John 19:30). That one word wasn’t just the end of His suffering—it was the fulfillment of everything the prophets had spoken and God’s plan for redemption. Back then, people hearing tetelestai would have understood it in a few powerful ways:

• A Debt Paid in Full: Merchants used tetelestai to stamp receipts, meaning the debt was completely settled. Jesus was saying the debt of our sin—something we could never repay—was wiped clean (Colossians 2:14).
• A Sacrifice Completed: Priests used tetelestai when a sacrifice was offered and accepted. As the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus declared the work was done (Hebrews 10:10).
• A Battle Won: Generals shouted tetelestai after a victorious battle. Jesus wasn’t just suffering; He was conquering sin, death, and the enemy (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

On the cross, Jesus didn’t just handle sin. He also gave us healing—spiritually, emotionally, and even physically:

• Sin Covered: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
• Healing Promised:(Isaiah 53:5) says, “By His stripes, we are healed.” That healing touches every part of life.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He wasn’t leaving anything undone. Sin? Covered. Death? Defeated. Eternal life? Secured. We get to live in freedom because He paid it all.

So here’s the thing—those same words Jesus spoke still apply today. Whatever sin, struggle, or sickness you’re carrying, He’s already declared it handled. “It is finished.” That’s the power of the cross. Now, walk in it.