What is so good about Good Friday? Jesus answered that question with one word in Greek that we read as three words in English. “It is Finished.” One word of Christ from the cross changes all of creation forever: The physical world of the universe, the spiritual world of the angels, and the physical and spiritual world of mankind. In John 19 we have the last words of Jesus on the Cross. - To His Mother, “Woman, behold you son.” 19:26
- To the Disciples, “Behold your mother.” 19:26
- To the Testimony of Scripture, “Jesus, knowing that all things had already been finished (tetelestai) to fulfill the scripture said, I thirst.” 19:28
- To All: “It is Finished.” 19:30
“It is finished” grammatically is a perfect tense that communicates a past act with continuing results. It can be translated, “It has been finished” placing the emphasis on a past act, with present results or it can be translated “It is finished” with the emphasis on present results based on a past act. The fact is, “IT” is Finished!” The word “finished” (telos) can mean ended, completed, or perfected. The first question I ask myself is, who was Jesus speaking to? - The Father - Your will and my work is complete! Jesus always did the Father’s will. (John 4:34, 17:4)
- The Devil - The defeat, the crushing of the head of the serpent prophesied in Genesis 3 is finished.
- The Angels - Prepare to meet the Son of God (Hebrews 1-:8-13) and serve my church (Hebrews 1:14)
- The Audience at the cross - I am done…He gave up His Spirit. What did they think of this?
- The World of Man - My end is your beginning. My death brings you eternal life.
The second question I ask myself is, what was Jesus referring to? What is the “It” in It is Finished?
- The work of the Father. (John 4:34)
- The plan of the Father to Glorify the Son. (John 12:23-24, 17:1-5)
- The fulfillment of all of the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27,44)
- The Old Testament sacrificial system is eliminated. (John 1:17 and Leviticus 16, Day of Atonement, Hebrews 7-9)
- The provision of propitiation and the removal of guilt from sin. (Romans 3:21-25; Colossians 2:15; I John 2:1)
- The shame of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 21:23)
- The Testing of Jesus; He did not give in to temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4) or on the Cross.
They say that timing and location are everything. About 3,000 years ago, Abraham obeyed the Lord, offering up Isaac his son on Mount Moriah. (Genesis 22) About 1,000 years after Abraham offered his son, King David bought the entire mountain from a Canaanite named Arauvnah. (2 Samuel 24:18) Later, Solomon built the temple on the same hill. (2 Chronicles 3:1) Mount Moriah is not a single peak but an elongated ridge that begins at the junction of the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys, over which Jerusalem straddles the mountain. This is the mountain where Jesus was crucified. It is called Calvary, the place of the skull – Golgotha. (John 19:17) Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
It is Finished. This is why it is Good Friday... because it leads to Easter Sunday. Serving Him with you, until He comes for us.
Fred | 
