2010-2-21 Sins retained & sins remitted

2010-2-21

Peace to You, Sins Retained & Sins Remitted

John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."

Imagine the events unfolding Jesus had died the report had gone out that He was risen! Still the disciples were huddle in fear of the Jews who had killed Jesus. In the middle of the fear and uncertainty Jesus showed up in the midst. The first words He speaks is Peace be with you!

When the circumstance of life seems uncertain it is a good time for Jesus to show up. In time of uncertainty Jesus wants to minister to you.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

His promise is to never leave us or forsake us! We can boldly say God is my Helper! God’s Word has instructed us to cast our every care on Him for He care for us! Jesus is on the scene even if you feel unaware of it. Jesus speaks peace in the mist of our fears and uncertainty.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Jesus’ overcoming gives us the victory! In Christ we may have peace! His word to us is be of good cheer! In the very midst of our trouble Jesus speaks to us to cheer up! Why? His victory is our victory!

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Our overcoming, our peace is only when the object of our faith is in believing that Jesus is the Son of God! Indeed because we have made Him the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul, He will take care of us! Peace be unto you!

John 20:20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Imagine going from fear of the Jews to absolute joy the Christ is truly risen! How intimate Jesus was showing them his nailed scarred hands and side! Jesus spoke peace to them a second time! Out of the peace came the calling! Can we hear the precious call of the Savior? “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you”. It is imperative to learn to walk in this gift of peace! Jesus is the prince of peace!

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Jesus breathed on them! It was an impartation from Jesus!

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Christ in you is the hope of glory! It is the essences of the New Covenant! It is the statement Jesus made to the disciples that I want to stop and consider. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them: if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”

Retaining and forgiving others sins is something the church does not talk about too often. To address what it does not mean is very important to avoid erroneous teaching. There was not a priesthood birthed starting with the 12 disciples that have the power to allow people to remain in their sin or to extend forgiveness.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

There is only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. There is not another mediator not now not ever!

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

We have one High priest and we do not need another! Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession and we do not need another!

Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

If an earthly priesthood was going to continue there was no need for Jesus Christ! Jesus saves to the uttermost with an unchangeable priesthood. Jesus stands in the gap for you ever making intercession for you the believer.

John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

So what is the power to retain or the power to forgive?

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

When Jesus breathed on the disciples there was an impartation of the Holy Spirit. When one is born again they receive this impartation.

1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

It is the abiding that occurs at the confession of faith! When one is born again there is the supernatural abiding that brings you power not to retain but to forgive.

Jesus forgives the sinner! If any man confesses their sin Jesus is faithful and just to forgive them of their sin and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness.

Believers have the power to retain or to forgive sin. It is not the issue of the offender it is the issue of your heart. There are many who have been wounded and still retain the sin of those who hurt them.

There are sign posts that show you still retain the sin of another.

1. There is a rehearsal of the hurt rather in conversation or one's own thought life. The situation is often thought about in one’s heart. Sometimes out loud to others, but it could be just in your own reflections.

2. Nurturing of the wound. Wounds that have never been healed are because there is the infection of retaining sin.

3. Is there a name you hear that brings turmoil to your heart.. If you see them in public you go around the block, or down the aisle of the grocery store you don’t need just to avoid them. Yes, this is a sure sign of retaining sin.

The unrestrained thoughts of our heart and mind can be the greatest stumbling block to forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

The stray thoughts that nurture the pain and hurts of the past can be girded up!

Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

One of the ways you can capture those stray thoughts is to begin to pray for and bless those who do you wrong. It not easy to start with; however if you will offer up an offering of blessing for the unlovely you set God free to bring a healing into your heart.

There have been times in my own life out of sheer obedience I begin to love my enemy and bless them. I told God, “I don’t feel like it but out of obedience to you I will”! I can’t put my finger on the time but after a season I found myself praying a heart felt prayer of blessing for them. It was then God was able to intervene on my behalf.

Our retaining sin of another may never affect the one that did us wrong; However without exception if we retain the sin of another they are retained by us and the very act of retaining brings turmoil to our own soul.

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! Based upon the depth of forgiveness to me I can live loving the unlovely. Forgiveness is a choice of the heart. It's not just forgive and forget that person that hurt me. It is forgive and bless that one. Even if it begins with the simple of act of praying for their salvation or praying that God will bless them with revelation knowledge of the Messiah. Forgiveness is the lifestyle of wholeness for the believer.

2010-2-14 My God, Your God

Jesus is awesome! The first new covenant message to the disciples of Jesus is delivered by Mary and what a message it is!

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2010-2-14

“My God, Your God”

The day Jesus rose from the grave the first new covenant message was preached!

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

Jesus has now been crucified and Mary Magdalene has found an empty tomb. Her immediate response was to tell Peter and John she had found an empty tomb.

John 20:3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

It is awesome and often under preached, when John looked into the empty tomb he saw and believed! The empty tomb was enough for him. John is identified in this passage as the other disciple.

John 20:10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

While it is recorded that John believed, Mary was still mourning Jesus' death and missing body. This was about to all change.

John 20:14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

When Jesus calls you by name… What a moment in history! Mary did not recognize Jesus until He called her by name! After He spoke her name she immediately recognized Jesus. Jesus had spoken my sheep know my voice and another they will not follow.

John 10:3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Jesus is out of the tomb and He is now in the business of calling His sheep by name. Jesus calls you! Will you heed the call. His invitation is awesome!

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

This above verse is so powerful! Jesus is officially announcing the institution of the grace covenant. Hear the voice of Jesus! Jesus had a specific message He wanted the brethren to hear! “go and say to the brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” What great good news. Jesus had made the way for His Father to be our Father! Jesus had made the way for His God to be our God! Praise the Lord, the way and access into the throne room of God had been made!

John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Here the first new covenant message is preached! Jesus is ascending to the Father! If you have put your faith in Him you can now say He is your Father and your God! Yes, this too is the power of the cross!

2010-2-7 The Stone was Rolled Away

The tomb of of Jesus is empty, the stone was rolled away; believers no longer have to walk with the mentality of sin's reproach.

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2010-2-7

“The Stone Rolled Away”

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Jesus rose from the dead and they found the stone had been taken away! On the surface it does not sound like much but what a story the Word of God brings when one realizes the rolling away of the stone. We have talked about the finished work of Christ on the cross. However, without the resurrection power of Christ it would have been an innocent man had sadly been convicted. Praise the Lord they found an empty tomb!

Luke 24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

It is something how they found the stone rolled away! Mary, Salome and Mary came to the tomb to bring spices only to find an empty tomb. It is amazing these women are the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.

Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away; for it was very large.

Here in Mark we find them discussing how will they get that stone rolled away? Again we find the word the stone had been rolled away!

Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Thank God for the rolling away of the stone. Because of Jesus, the way into the holy place had come! Because of Jesus, the sin of all the world had been atoned for! The crucified one had now fulfilled the purpose of coming to earth.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Jesus the propitiation; Jesus the atonement provided for the sins of the world. Thank God for the rolling away of the stone so the world could see a resurrected Savior!

Josh 5:7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

This old Testament verse is where the circumcising of the children who came through the wilderness and had now arrived in the promised land. The name Gilgal means rolling away. Physical circumcision was how the children of Israel declared they belonged in covenant with the one true God. However this was an awesome rolling away of the reproach of Egypt for the nation Israel ! Egypt represented slavery, and it came with great reproach having evil and harsh task masters. Like sin enslaves men today there can be a rolling away of the stone and instead of finding death there is life. The reproach of Egypt came with shame and guilt fear and uncertainty. Not only was it slavery of the body but it also came with a mindset of being a slave. God has brought His people away from the slavery of Egypt but the reproached remained in their hearts and mind. God wanted to prepare them for the conquest ahead taking the promise land. He had to remove the reproach that still enslaved them. Much the same way the rolling away of the stone from the empty tomb came in order that we might know the victory had been won by Christ alone!

Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem . 48 "And you are witnesses of these things. 49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Because of the Crucified One the reproach of sin can be broken! There is repentance and remission of sins because of the most holy name of Jesus. Churches that are not preaching repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus are false churches! When the angel of Lord brought that earthquake to roll the stone away it was the best news. It is the gospel! Repentance and remission of sin is found in Jesus Christ alone! You too can be set free from slavery. Not only can you be set free from sin but God wants to give you a mind set that causes you to walk free from sins reproach!

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Many preach the generic version of this passage and say the truth shall make you free; however, THE TRUTH that sets you free is if the Son Jesus Christ sets you free from the slavery of sin, you are free indeed! This is the specific truth. Notice the slave can be sold out of the house but a son abides forever.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Because the stone was rolled away there is freedom to be found in Jesus Christ! Because the stone was rolled away you can cry out Abba Father!

When one comes to true salvation they die to sin and become alive unto God. Sin shall not have dominion over this one because they are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is the way for complete victory over sin! Jesus set you free from sin at the cross of Calvary . Jesus died to sin once for all and the life He lives, He lives to God. LIKEWISE YOU ALSO, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is a faith issue many believers have not learned to walk in. Recognizing that you died to sin in order to come to Christ. The dying daily is an issue of faith believing that Jesus dying for sin and living to God is enough! If you have never come to the Roman 6:7 experience you have never been born again! The object of your faith ever remaining in Jesus the crucified one. Many believers have a need to renew their mind with this awesome truth! Our old man was crucified and now we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We are called to renew our mind and agree with the degree of freedom from sin Jesus has declared. This is when we can put on the new man which was created in holiness and true righteousness.

The stone was rolled away for you! He who the Son sets free is free indeed!

2010-1-31 The Difference of the Cross part 3

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2010-1-31

John 19 What a difference the cross can make. Part 3

John 19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.

Imagine Pilate who found no fault with Jesus beat Him only to please the Jews! Then the crown of thorns and a purple robe all to mock Him! “Hail, King of the Jews” The perfect lamb was about to be slain but not before they tortured and humiliated Him.

John 19:4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!" 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."

The chief priest and Jewish leaders had one intent; Crucify the Son of God.

John 19:8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" 11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

God is sovereign, even this evil man Pilate could not say Rome had giving him his power. Jesus said Pilate’s authority came from above. Misused as it was, it was still given from above.

John 19:12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar." 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"

The Jews deny Jesus as their king! “Caesar is our king” In truth they did not want a suffering savior. The Jews were looking for the warrior king. They were looking for a earthly kingdom but Jesus came to establish the heavenly kingdom. Many men are still looking to set up an earthly kingdom; however the heavenly kingdom is the only thing that will bring complete honor and glory to God!

John 19:15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"

Deuteronomy 18:18 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Jesus was the Prophet Moses prophesied of and the Jews rejected His voice. God Word has certainly come to pass as within 40 years of there rejection of Jesus their place in the nation of Rome was removed and their temple was torn down without one stone left upon another. Yet this was all in the plan of God!

John 19:16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. 17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha , 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 19:20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."' " 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.

So many Old Testament scriptures were fulfilled as Jesus was going to the cross. God Word fulfilled over and over. Oh that we would highly esteem the Word of God. It deserves to be revered and as we learn to revere His Word we can walk in intimacy with Him!

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

What a tender moment of the cross when Jesus was tortured and in great agony he was still being moved by love for his mother!

John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Yet more scripture fulfilled and He utter the last words before his death! “IT IS FINISHED!”

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Hebrews 7:24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's,for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

John 19:31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

Again, one Old Testament prophesy after another being fulfilled the day of the cross!

Isaiah 53:1 Who would have believed what we heard? Who saw the Lord's power in this? 2 He grew up like a small plant before the LORD, like a root growing in a dry land. He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him; there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him. 3 He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look at him. He was hated, and we didn't even notice him. 4 But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us. We saw his suffering and thought God was punishing him. 5 But he was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds. 6 We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way. But the LORD has put on him the punishment for all the evil we have done. 7 He was beaten down and punished, but he didn't say a word. He was like a lamb being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut; he never opened his mouth. 8 Men took him away roughly and unfairly. He died without children to continue his family. He was put to death; he was punished for the sins of my people. 9 He was buried with wicked men, and he died with the rich. He had done nothing wrong, and he had never lied. 10 But it was the LORD who decided to crush him and make him suffer. The LORD made his life a penalty offering, but he will still see his descendants and live a long life. He will complete the things the LORD wants him to do. 11 "After his soul suffers many things, he will see life and be satisfied. My good servant will make many people right with God; he will carry away their sins. 12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people, and he will share in all things with those who are strong. He willingly gave his life and was treated like a criminal. But he carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned."

Oh that the church would get a full revelation of how Jesus really has taken away the sin of the world. He faced the punishment and guilt and shame of it all!! It was God who crushed Jesus and made Him suffer and carry away our sins! Jesus the crucified one; Oh what a difference the cross makes!

John 19:38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

The darkest day for Jesus became our greatest day of hope! Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. As Isaiah 53:11 says Jesus will make many people right with God. Jesus' obedience to the cross is our one and only hope and what great hope it is!

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.