IT IS FINISHED: The Crucifixion Of The Lamb

Spring, c. 33 AD

IT IS FINISHED: The Crucifixion Of The Lamb

The trials were a mockery of justice, shifting through the night from Annas to Caiaphas, then to Pilate, Herod, and back to Pilate. Scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, Jesus of Nazareth was led to Golgotha. There, at the Place of a Skull, they nailed the King of the Jews to a Roman cross between two thieves.

From noon until three, an unnatural darkness covered the land. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" and yielded up His spirit. The massive veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the way to the Father was now open through the flesh of the Son. He was hastily buried in a borrowed tomb before sundown.

"Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."
— John 19:30 (LSB)

Timeline Box: Good Friday marks the trials, the crucifixion, the death, and the hurried burial of Jesus in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

Post-Exilic Era, c. 444 BC

Nehemiah Hears Of Jerusalem's Ruin

In the Persian palace of Susa, Nehemiah the cupbearer has received devastating news. The survivors in the province of Judah are in great distress, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates burned with fire. He has sat down to weep, mourn, fast, and pray before the God of heaven.

"And they said to me, 'The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.'"
— Nehemiah 1:3 (LSB)

Timeline Box: Nehemiah received this news in the month of Chislev, but the theme of brokenness aligns with the tragedy of the cross.

Mosaic Era, 1405 BC

The Walls Of Jericho Come Tumbling Down

On the seventh day of the siege, the silent march ended. The priests blew the horns, the people raised a massive shout, and the impenetrable walls of Jericho fell flat. The first great victory in the Promised Land was won not by siege weapons, but by faithful obedience to the Commander of the Lord's Army.

"So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets... the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they captured the city."
— Joshua 6:20 (LSB)

Timeline Box: The fall of Jericho occurred on the seventh day of the siege following the Passover.

Editorial: The Torn Veil

On this day, the worst of human sin met the zenith of divine grace. The torn veil in the Temple tells us that religion is no longer about keeping our distance from a holy God, but about drawing near through the blood of Christ.

"It is finished" is not a cry of defeat, but the greatest shout of victory the world has ever known. Like the walls of Jericho falling flat, the barrier between God and humanity has been completely leveled by the obedience of the Son. The physical body of Jesus was broken so that the spiritual walls keeping us from the Father could be destroyed forever.

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