Good Friday is probably the devils worst day ever. When Jesus said “It is finished,” Satan had to know that all his efforts to ruin our salvation had failed. The cross was a willing sacrifice for the redemption of the world. Jesus said to Pilate, “You do not take my life, I lay it down; and I will take it up again.” (And so he did.)

Finished is an important word in our faith. Jesus spoke of the work that the Father had given him to finish. What work has the Lord given you to complete; and what is the Lord doing in your life? Paul wrote, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Sure there were temptations for Jesus to give up and throw in the towel. All that he had to do was say the word and thousands of angels would descend and set him free. Back to the Ivory Palaces; but where would that have left us?

“It is finished,” is the reason we call today Good Friday.

“To the howling mob he yielded: he did not for mercy cry,
The cross of shame he took alone,
And when he cried, ‘It’s finished,’ he gave himself to die,
Salvation’s wondrous plan was done.”

“It is finished, the battle is over… It is finished and Jesus is Lord.”