"It is finished."
Simple Prayer: May I appreciate your tenacity and resolve to express your relentless love.
Read for Context (What does it say? Read 3x): John 19:28-37
Read for Insight (What does it mean?):
His Relentless Love: His breathing was sporadic now. His mission was literally at the finish line. Jesus articulated it this way, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." He had served wholeheartedly. Now, he would give his life.
One translation chose to use the phrase "it is consummated" over "it is finished." There is something powerful in that interpretation. It brings to mind the marriage covenant. The relationship between Christ and his People (the Church, his Bride) is now fully consummated. What God has joined together, no man will ever tear apart.
Relentless love brought Christ to this moment. He could see the end that was a beginning, a bit like a groom who sees his bride walking down the aisle. He knows that single life is over and a new, better life is now present. It is for this moment that Jesus is undaunted by his suffering. Jesus says, "I do!" Life with a newly ransomed bride starts now.
Our Response: It is finished, the old life has gone, the new life is consummated. Because Jesus did the work, and did it completely. we live in gratitude and humility, freely and joyfully. Perhaps our greatest response, today anyway, is to bask in this overwhelming service rendered by our King as a reflection of his relentless love to us and to the world.
Read for Application (How should I respond?)
Say/write a short prayer of commitment.  In a journal or in the comments below.
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