"IT IS FINISHED."

Variations on this statement either made by God / Jesus or regarding Him appear in four key places in the Bible:

    Genesis 2:1 – “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”

    John 17:4 – “I finished the work you gave me to do.”

    John 19:30 – “When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

    Revelation 21:6 – “And he said to me, 'It is finished. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.'”

But strangely, I have yet to run across a Bible commentary which firmly ties these passages together. However before proceeding, a brief comment is in order regarding the Hebrew and Greek words translated as “finished”or its equivalent in these passages. In English, this term can be understood in two almost opposite ways – (1) something which didn't work out the way you wished and thus must be forever abandoned or (2) some task which was started and then successfully completed. The biblical language used in these three passages above indicates the second of these interpretations is in mind.

With that issue made clear, here are some randomly presented comments from scholars which I hope to all draw together into a cohesive picture encompassing the high points of salvation history from a biblical standpoint.

Scholarly Views

“For Gen 1, creation is complete when humans are on the scene.” (Van Leeuwen)

“Ergon ['work(s)'] for him [John]...includes what we would call the 'natural' activities of Jesus as well as the 'supernatural”. It reminds us that these are all of a piece, that Jesus' whole life was consistently spent in doing the will of God and in accomplishing His purpose. Not only in the miracles, but in all His life He was showing forth God's glory. There is probably another thought behind John's use of the term ergon. The same word is used consistently in the Old Testament of the works of God. Perhaps especially important are the passages in which it is used of His works and creation...and in delivering His people...” (Morris)

“Some scholars...believe that in its frequent mention of days in i and ii 1, the Fourth Gospel wishes to portray a week of seven days to open the ministry – a week beginning the new creation just as Gen i-ii 3 frames the work of the first creation within a week of seven days.” (R.E. Brown)

“The hour of glory is also the passion: throughout, Jesus is serenely in control, directing events (Jn 19:26-27), organizing his mother and his closest disciple (Jn 19:26-27), fulfilling Scripture (Jn 19:28) until finally 'it is accomplished' (Jn 19:30).” (Burridge)

“In John 20:19-23 almost all of the main themes of this Gospel are tied together and brought to a climax. John reports that Jesus, after having breathed (enephysesen) on the disciples, said to them, 'Receive [the] Holy Spirit' (Jn 20:22). This clearly alludes to Genesis 2:7...and thereby places the entire pericope into the context of the Spirit as God's life-giving power, both at creation and in the eschatological re-creation of God's people as God's temple.” (Wenk)

“A further understanding of these fulfillment quotations [in John's Gospel] can be discerned through the use of the verb teleioo ('to bring to its end, to perfect') in a fulfillment formula (Jn 19:28) that is sandwiched by formulae that use the verb pleroo ('to fulfill' [Jn 19:24, 36]). Reading both sets of formulae together, we see that John is not simply concerned with the fulfillment of individual predictions contained in the OT, he also aims at drawing attention to the fact that this passion narrative depicts 'the ultimate fulfillment of all christological prophecy in the Scriptures' (Hengel). In the death and resurrection of Christ one finds the true fulfillment of the entire OT history as it forms the climax of God's work among his people.” (Pao)

“John's teaching on the new birth is part of a larger 'new creation' theme in his Gospel. From the very outset, John links Jesus' coming to God's creation 'in the beginning' (Jn 1:1; cf. Gen 1:1)...Even the first week of Jesus' ministry is presented in a fashion analogous to the week of creation (Jn 1:19-2:11)... and Jesus breathes on his disciples and gives the Spirit in the final commissioning scene (in 20:22), invoking the creation of Adam (Gen 2:7; cf. Ezek 37:9).” (Kostenberger)

“The tabernacle...was to be a place for God's presence to dwell (tent) among his people (25:8-9), the sine qua non in order for Israel to be his people...Its completion recalls the completion of the universe in Genesis (cf. Gen 2:1-3; Exod 39:32, 42-43). God's presence is the essence of this feature of Exodus. The tabernacle/temple will ultimately be done away with in the final community of God and his people (Rev 21:2-4, 22) for it is God's presence that, in the final analysis, makes his people holy...” (Carpenter)

“In Jn. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, teleioo is used where Jesus speaks of the works of the Father which he has to accomplish. On the cross he can say that they are accomplished (tetelestai, it is finished, 19:30, cf. v. 28). (Schippers)

In Revelation 20:5-6, “the saints'...priestly status means that they serve in the presence of God, whereas those suffering the second death will be separated from God forever...The statement in 22:5 that the saints reign 'forever and ever' in eternity is a continuation of the reign begun during the millennial period and is not to be superimposed on 20:4-6 as if the two reigns were identical in time... The point of the title [Alpha and Omega] is that the God who transcends time guides the entire course of history...” (Beale)

A New Approach

By combining some of the above observations and adding a few ideas of my own, the somewhat symmetrical arrangement shown in Figure 1 below can be constructed. It results in three major narratives, each containing the key phrase “It is finished (or accomplished)” or its equivalent in relation to God's work and His creation.

In the first phase we see God creating the physical universe, culminating in the creation of man. But, unfortunately, the ensuing events shows the first human couple falling from grace and condemned to a limited lifetime away from God's direct presence.

In the second act, Jesus as the “new Adam,” lives without sin and consequently his death is able to reverse the curse on mankind to bring salvation and restoration to God for all who accept that fact.

Finally, in the last days we see a reversal of the events in Genesis resulting in a New Creation in which there is a separation of mankind into those who do and do not believe in Jesus' work on their behalf. But for the former group, there is complete restoration of the relationship that mankind had with God in the beginning.

Whereas the key word “finished” begins the first and third of these acts by God, in the middle section this word appropriately appears toward the center. However, all three sections end the same way – with references to eternity.

The two places in John's Gospel referencing Jesus finishing his work deserve a little more notice since their key position in the center of the center panel of this triptych indicates that they serve as a hinge for the whole salvation story in the Bible.

Looking first at John 17:4-5, the RSV reads: (v. 4) “I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; (v. 5) and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.” Notice that whereas v. 4 clearly refers back to the beginning of Genesis, v. 5 looks forward to Christ back in heaven reigning with the Father, as in the Book of Revelation.

Turning to the other swing passage in John's Gospel – verses 19:28-30b, there is some disagreement as to how it should be parsed. RSV, JB and NRSV have the parenthetical phrase “to fulfill the scripture,” associated with the following words having to do with Jesus thirsting (in fulfillment of Ps. 69). On the other hand, KJV, NIV and The Message translate it in such a way as to indicate that the fulfillment refers to all prior events.

As Borchert says, “This statement, however, raises two questions: (1) What Scripture was intended? And (2) To what was the fulfillment referring?”

Thus we see that this second related passage in John's Gospel also serves as a perfect hinge point looking equally backward and forward at the same time.

Finally, note in Figure 1 how each differently lettered theme appears throughout these three sections often in different guises. As just one example, consider the “C” Units:

        God breathes his own breath/Spirit into mankind. (Gen. 2:7)

        By contrast, Satan's spirit enters into Judas. (John 12:1-2)

        Jesus gives up his spirit/life on behalf of fallen humanity. (John 19:30)

        Jesus breathes his Spirit into his followers. (John 20:22-23)

                                                Figure 1: Creation and Salvation

The Creation and Fall: Genesis 1-4

A. Let there be Light (1:3-5)

    B. “The heaven and the earth were finished” (2:1-3)

        C. God breathes the Spirit into Adam (2:7)

            D. The tree of life (2:8-9)

                E. River flowing out of Eden (2:10)

                    F. Precious stones (2:11-14)

                        G. They were naked (2:25)

                            H. Judgment pronounced (3:14-19)

                                I. Clothed by God (3:21)

                            H. Judgment begins (3:22-24)

                                    J. “lest they live forever” (4:22-23)

The New Adam: John 12-20

                            H. Judgment on this world announced (12:31)

            D. Prediction of the cross (12:32-34)

A. “I am the light of the world” (12:35-50)

        C. Satan enters into Judas (13:1-2)

                        G. Jesus clothed only in a towel (13:3-4)

                E. Jesus pours out water to wash the disciples' feet (13:5-12a)

                                I. Jesus puts clothing back on (13:12b)

    B. “I finished the work you gave me to do” (17:4)

                            H. Judgment pronounced (18:12-19:16)

                        G. Jesus' clothing taken (19:23-25)

    B. “It is finished” (19:28-30a)

        C. Jesus gives up his spirit (19:30b)

                E. Water and blood flow from his side (19:34)

                    F. Precious spices (19:39)

                                I. Jesus wrapped in linen (19:40)

                            H. Jesus takes judgment on himself (19:41-42)

                        G. Jesus' clothing left behind (20:6-7)

        C. Jesus breathes the Spirit into His disciples (20:22-23)

                                    J. “have life in his name” (20:21)

The New Creation and Restoration: Revelation 21-22

    B. New Heaven and New Earth...It is finished (21:1,6a)

                            H. Judgment pronounced (21:6b-8)

                    F. Precious stones (21:9-21)

                E. Water of life flowing (22:1-2a)

            D. Trees available to all (22:2)

A. Light no longer needed (22:5)

                                    J.“they will reign forever” (22:5b)