It is Finished!

Do you know the two words alpha and omega?  Perhaps you recognize them as the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet just as A and Z are in ours.  Do you know that those two Greek letters are also one of Jesus’ names?  In Revelation chapter 22, the Savior applies this name to himself. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End,” he says (verse 13).  What does this name mean?

Consider how we use those two letters in our language.  When a store advertises, “We have everything from A to Z,” we know what it means.  It’s claiming, “We have it all. Everything you need you can find here.  We are all-sufficient.”  This claim may or may not be true.  But when Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” it’s true, wonderfully true.  He has it all. He is all-sufficient.  There is nothing missing.  He is all we need for salvation.

Scarcely had the sponge soaked with sour wine moistened Jesus’ parched lips when we hear Him speak.  “It is finished,” He says.  Although only one word of four syllables in the Greek language, yet these are words of great significance to the world. Nor are we exaggerating when we call them the most important words in the history of the world.  “It is finished,” Jesus said, not with the whisper of the dying that you have to bend low to hear.  No, He spoke, as the gospel writers tell us, with a loud voice so that all might hear.  “It is finished,” He wanted the whole world to know. 

With these words Jesus was telling all who would listen, “I have won.  My work of salvation is done.  I have opened wide the gates of heaven for mankind.  I have kept all of the law perfectly for every person.  I have paid for all sins. Not one sin is left, whether seemingly large or small.  I have suffered the agonies of hell that were reserved for sinners.  I have endured the full punishment and anger of my Father over sin.  I have shed my precious blood to redeem all mankind.  And now, it—My work of salvation—is completely finished.”  Not a single sin in the mountain load on His back was left unpaid.  From His cross the Savior could turn His gaze from the first sinner to the last and see no one whose guilt He had not covered.

Thank God we know our salvation is all done.  Thank God we know that whether we call Jesus Alpha and Omega or A and Z, he is the only Savior we’ll ever need.  When Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End,” we can take Him at His word.  He truly is all we need for salvation and all we need for heaven.  May the Lord in His mercy keep this confidence in our hearts this Good Friday and always!