The 6th cry from the cross, “It is FINISHED” signifies that Jesus had finished all that the Father had put before Him. In these words, lies the assurance of our own salvation, the sure knowledge that our personal debt to the Father was paid by another. Even though Jesus had yet to be buried, rise again, and ascend into heaven. The difficult work of suffering, the difficult work of being separated from the presence of His Father, the difficult work of being treated like a sinner was over. Though as His followers we suffer for different reasons and in different ways, we can take heart that our suffering, too, shall someday be done with. Whatever we face today we will one day be able to say, “IT IS FINISHED.” For those who choose to turn to Jesus and accept His suffering to pay the penalty for their sin, will one day find the rest they long for. The question is whether we have endured with the sure knowledge that grief is part of the divine place. We rest in the Divine plan and allow Him to use our lives to bring hope and perspective to others. We must remember that the suffering we endure has an eternal purpose and plan of our loving Heavenly Father.
