“TETELESTAI”


BIBLE READING: John 19                            

                I have never been one to wear jewelry. Although, I do wear my wedding ring on the third finger of my left hand.  I also wear my apple watch that allows me to keep up with my steps, answer my texts, talk on the phone and oh yeah…it tells me the time.  I also wear a bracelet on my wrist on my right arm.  It isn’t made of gold, silver or titanium, but on rubber.  It is brown in color and contains one word written in all caps in white letters that says, “TETELESTAI”.  I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about this bracelet and its meaning.  The word “Tetelestai” is the perfect tense of the Greek verb “teleo” which is derived from telos (a goal achieved, a consummation, a result attained) and means to bring something to a successful end to or to its intended or destined goal. It does not mean just to complete a task but to carry it out fully, to bring it to the finish or to perfection. It is only one word, but in our English, it is translated into three very important words for us as Christians… “it is finished”.  This is the word that Jesus cried out with the last breath that He had while on the cross and is recorded in John 19.30. It is a word of finality, completion and consummation.  It describes the process of the redemption of mankind from the depths of Hell with an opportunity to be reunited with our Creator.  His work of redemption is complete, and nothing needs to be or can be added to it.  Charles Spurgeon once said of TETELESTAI “it is an ocean of meaning in a drop of language, a mere drop. It would need all the other words that ever were spoken, or ever can be spoken, to explain this one word. It is altogether immeasurable. It is high; I cannot attain to it. It is deep; I cannot fathom it. IT IS FINISHED is the most charming note in all of Calvary’s music. The fire has passed upon the Lamb. He has borne the whole of the wrath that was due to His people. This is the royal dish of the feast of love…What a grand utterance (is "Tetelestai")! Now are we safe, for salvation is complete. The (sin) debt was now, to the last farthing, all discharged. The atonement and propitiation were made once and for all and forever, by the one offering made in Jesus’ body on the Tree. There was the cup; Hell was in it; the Savior drank it—not a sip and then a pause—not a draught (a single act of drinking) and then a ceasing. He drained it till there is not a dreg left for any of His people. The great ten-thronged whip of the Law was worn out upon His back…Once again—when He said, “IT IS FINISHED,” Jesus had totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin and of death. The Champion accepted the challenge to do battle for our soul’s redemption against all our foes. He met Sin. Horrible, terrible, all-but omnipotent Sin nailed Him to the Cross. But in that deed, Christ nailed Sin also to the tree. There they both did hang together—Sin and Sin’s Destroyer. Sin destroyed Christ and by that destruction Christ destroyed Sin."   As I wear this word on my arm, it serves as a constant reminder of my sin; but it also serves as a constant reminder of His love, His sacrifice and His plan to bring me back to Him.  Thank you, Jesus, for paying my debt…in full.
           



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