“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)
I heard recently on several media outlets that a young entertainer who has been notorious for not-so-pleasant run-ins with the law picked up the tab for a group of police officers at a diner in midtown Manhattan. After posing for a picture with the officers, the performer later stated that he was committed to being a better person and restoring his image. In contrast, a friend related a story to me years ago about a group of residents from a nursing home who had been transported to a local restaurant where they were scheduled to have a luncheon outing. A nice gentleman who had also been dining there came over to their table, asked where they were from, and after a brief conversation wished them a wonderful day. Later, when the nursing home residents requested their bill, the waitress told them it had been taken care of. It was obvious who had most likely paid their debt, but the waitress was not allowed to say. Now if these two stories were a modern-day parable as they easily could be, Jesus would have us answer this question: Even though both balances were paid by a generous individual, which one received the greatest blessing from God?
Jesus went to the cross to pay our debt in full. On either side of Him hung a convicted criminal who had been sentenced to die (Matthew 27:38). One of them mocked Jesus, but the other seemed to appreciate who He was. The latter had his debt forgiven and received the gift of eternal life (Luke 23:40-43). While it is not clear how this thief may have come to have such a clear understanding of Jesus, he received far more than he deserved . . . just like us. We all awaken in the morning with what some would tell us is a fresh start. In reality, our new day is anything but a clean slate. However our life failures do not condemn us in God’s eyes because of what His Son did for us on the cross. The blood of Jesus provided a new covenant with God, in that He came to do for us what we were incapable of doing for ourselves
Paul says that “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10). Our role is that as we progress through our journey, we must position ourselves as a living example of His teachings, fully demonstrating that we are a true child of God. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time making our own rules and hoping for the free gift of the ‘last minute save’ similar to that which was given to the thief on the cross. Our culture perpetuates this idea by promoting deals on last minute flights and vacations and portraying contestants on reality shows being scooped up in a ‘save’ by another team. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to treat my promise of the Hereafter in the same way that some might conduct their view of the Here and Now. Warren Wiersbe has stated: “Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday’s regret and tomorrow’s worries.” I don’t think that’s what Paul meant when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
A group of artists were once asked how they knew when their painting was done. The one who spoke first stated that before he begins, he has a clear vision of what it is that he wants to paint. That vision inspires his work, and he knows whenever it has been satisfied on the canvas. Another, who was a man of fewer words, declared that his work is completed only when he signs his name on the piece. When he does so, it is finished. Likewise, Jesus knew when His mission had been fulfilled when he said, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4). He had paid in full the debt of sin for all mankind. Just as Jesus is triumphant at Calvary, He will ultimately win the victory in our lives when we surrender ourselves to Him. While the painting may be completed, the rest of the story has not yet been written for the sinner whose work will eventually be signed off with the blood of Christ.
REFLECTION: In what ways do we ignore the simple commands of Christ and make up our own rules? As such, do we assume that the free gift of salvation is always there for the taking? How can we improve on walking a fine line between knowing our debts have been paid in full and living a better life for God?
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