This evening we meet to observe Good Friday, the day of Christ’s death and burial.  It is interesting to note that though the cross is the central symbol of our faith,  Easter is bigger in the church than Good Friday.  The resurrection is celebrated more than the death of Christ.

           We understand way.  Life is always celebrated more than death.  Which makes us most excited, a funeral or a birth announcement?

           But tonight we come to focus on the cross.  In the past few weeks we have been looking at what the cross means to Christians.

           The cross is a place of death.  Christ died for us. 

           That phrase leads us to the second meaning:  God loves us.

           The third meaning is the humility of our savior.

           The fourth meaning is the sacrifice that He gave.

           With all of that, tonight I want to focus on one more symbol, one more meaning that a Christian sees when he or she views the cross.

           The cross symbolizes completeness.

           The last week was difficult for Jesus.23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Joh 19:23 -30).

           I could focus on fulfilled prophecy.  I could focus on the grief of his mother and friend, John.  I could focus on the bitterness of the vinegar he was given to drink.  But tonight I want to focus on the words, “It is finished.”

           “It” is a very dangerous word.  Have you ever had someone ask you, “What do you think of it?  When you gave your answer, you discovered that they were talking about something totally different.  Or may be you end up making a commitment because you didn’t know what the “it” was that you were supposed to do.

           When Jesus said, “It is finished” we ask, what is the it? 

           The first answer we give is that his life is finished.  For right after this he dies and gives up his spirit.  No more will Jesus be walking the road to Jerusalem or sip water from the well.  No more will Jesus be visiting Nazareth or taking trips on fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee.

           But this phrase means more than that.  1 John tells us that the Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world.  As Christians, we believe that when Jesus died on the cross, everything that needed to be done for our salvation was done.

           The writer of the book of Hebrews goes into this quite a bit.  He tells us that ere is no more sacrifice for sin.  That Jesus’ death on the cross was all that was needed. 

           We cannot save ourselves.  If we have done things in the past that are bad, no amount of good that we do can atone for our sin.  Jesus did all that could be done on the cross.

           Baptism does not save us.  It shows we are saved, that we have faith in Jesus Christ, but it does not save us.

           Good works do not save us.  Good works are the fruit of knowing Christ, but it is faith in Christ that is the seed.

           The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us a beautiful picture.16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Heb 6:16 -20).

           We sing a song that asks the question, “Does you anchor hold?”  It springs out of this passage. 

           If you hope you are going to heaven or hope God will forgive your sins, but inside you are unsure, then your anchor isn’t holding.  But if your faith is in Jesus, he is an anchor that is firm and secure.  His anchor holds.  When he said on the cross, “It is finished” he meant it.  All that needed to be done to save us was done. The anchor was dropped and it holds.

           The writer of the Book of Hebrews goes on to talk about Jesus as a priest.  A priest in the Old Testament offered sacrifices for other people.  They did it over and over because the people kept on sinning.  I tell people this is my job security.  As long as we have sin in our church and community, I will never be without a job.  And the old Testament priests offered sacrifices continually until they died.  Then someone else took over. 

           But listen to this from the writer of Hebrews:  24 but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Heb 7:24 -25).

           Notice the “save completely?”  It is finished.

           Lidie H. Emunds said, “My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed.  I trust the everlasting one, His wounds for me will plead.  I need no other argument, I need no other plea.  It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.” (Hymn #528).

           Is it enough for you that Jesus died and that he died for you?  Does your anchor hold?  Is your salvation based on the cross of Jesus Christ and his death there for you?”

           “It is finished” resonates in the heart of the Christian.  It can resonate in your heart if you will put your faith in Jesus Christ.

           Let me share the ABC’s of this.

           First, you must acknowledge that you are a sinner.

           Second, you must believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again for your sins.

           Third, you must confess that Jesus is Lord.

           The Bible says,” that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

           If the Bible says you are saved through the death of Jesus Christ and you believe that, then you are saved.  If you are making that decision this evening,  then I encourage you to tell me.

           The church is commanded of Jesus to do three things.  First, share the good news of salvation, which we have done and encourage you to put your faith in Jesus and become his disciple.  Second, we are to baptize those who are believers.  Third, we are to teach the disciples to obey all Jesus commanded. 

           Tomorrow we are having a baptism.  If you made a decision for Christ, let me know tonight before you leave.  We would love to include you among those who will be baptized tomorrow.

           But if you are here tonight as a Christian, take a moment to meditate on this wonderful truth.  Because Christ died, you are secure.  Your faith in Christ is not in vain.  You have an anchor that will not slip.  You have a priest that will not fail you, but will save you to the uttermost.

           If Jesus said, “it is finished” then how much more saving can I get?

           The answer is this.  Because our sins are forgiven at the cross, we are sons of God.  God has chosen to put his Holy Spirit in us to deliver us from the power of sin.  Many of you could give testimony to how much Jesus has changed your life.  You have been saved from habits and patterns of life since you believe that all sprang out of that time you made a decision for Christ.

           And someday we will be saved out of this world and go to be with God.  Why?  Because when Jesus said, “It is finished...” he had done everything needed to forgive our sin, give us power over sin and give us the promise of eternal life with him.  That will complete our salvation.

           We worship him because of this.