John 19:16 to 19:37 On the cross, Jesus fully bore the penalty for our sin, perfectly satisfying divine justice and securing eternal redemption with the triumphant cry, 'It is finished!' Examine how specific Old Testament prophecies regarding Christ's suffering were fulfilled at Golgotha. Understand the profound theological meaning of the Greek word Tetelestai ('It is finished'). Respond with personal faith, wholehearted repentance, and worship to the Savior who died for us. Bearing his own crossbeam, Jesus walked outside [Jerusalem](/bible/explorer/place/jerusalem) to Golgotha. John was the only male apostle who stood courageously near the foot of the cross alongside the women. Bearing the Cross to Golgotha Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out to the Place of a Skull, called Golgotha in Aramaic. Pilate had an inscription written and fixed to the cross in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek: 'JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.' Though the chief priests protested, Pilate insisted: 'What I have written I have written.' Even in his execution, the supreme identity of Jesus was proclaimed to the multilingual world. Fulfilling Prophecy and Compassion at the Cross Soldiers divided his garments into four parts and cast lots for his seamless tunic, fulfilling Psalm 22:18 word for word. Near the cross stood Jesus' mother Mary, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother and the beloved disciple John standing nearby, Jesus said to Mary: 'Woman, behold, your son!' and to John: 'Behold, your mother!' From that hour, John took her into his home. Even amid agonizing physical torment, Jesus faithfully honored his mother with tender care. Tetelestai: It Is Finished Knowing that all was now completed, Jesus said to fulfill Scripture: 'I thirst.' A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he cried out: 'It is finished!' and bowed his head and gave up his spirit. In the original Greek, 'Tetelestai' was a legal and commercial word used on debt certificates meaning 'Paid in Full.' Christ did not cry out in defeat, but in majestic victory: the debt of human sin was completely eradicated. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 In what three languages was the title on Jesus' cross written? English, French, and German Aramaic, Latin, and Greek Hebrew, Persian, and Arabic Egyptian, Latin, and Syrian Aramaic, Latin, and Greek Pilate wrote the title in the three major languages of the region: Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. What did the soldiers do with Jesus' seamless tunic, fulfilling Psalm 22:18? They burned it They threw lots for it instead of tearing it They returned it to Mary They gave it to the high priest They threw lots for it instead of tearing it The soldiers cast lots for his tunic, exactly fulfilling Psalm 22:18. What is the profound meaning of Jesus' final word, 'Tetelestai' ('It is finished')? His life was an unfortunate accident The debt of human sin was paid in full and God's redemption was accomplished Rome had won the war He was simply tired The debt of human sin was paid in full and God's redemption was accomplished Tetelestai was used on paid receipts to signify that a debt was paid in full; Christ fully satisfied God's justice for our sins. Take time in personal prayer this week to write down sins or burdens you have carried, and write 'PAID IN FULL BY CHRIST' across them in thanksgiving. Lord Jesus Christ, words cannot express our gratitude for the cross. You drank the cup of God's wrath to the dregs so that we might drink the cup of eternal grace. Thank you that our debt is paid in full. Amen. Why is Jesus' declaration 'It is finished' the foundation of our assurance of salvation? How does Jesus' loving care for his mother while dying on the cross challenge how we treat our families? Explain the substitutionary atonement and the completed work of salvation represented by 'Tetelestai'. Show a stamped receipt that says 'PAID IN FULL'. Explain what that means when dealing with an impossible debt that could never be repaid. Can anything be added to what Jesus did? Emphasize that because Christ finished the work, we cannot earn salvation by our own good works; we receive it by faith. 5 minutes hook, 18 minutes biblical exegesis, 12 minutes discussion, 10 minutes prayer.