The Finished Work of the Cross - Your Nightly Prayer - April 3rd

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Your Nightly Prayer

The Finished Work of the Cross
Your Nightly Prayer
By Sophia Bricker

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:30, NIV

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Easter week contains many contrasts: starting with a triumphal entry, ending with death. Or calling the day Jesus was unjustly crucified “good.” What’s so “good” about Good Friday and the death of the innocent Lamb of God?

Darkness came over the earth as Jesus hung on the cross. The Word of God, who created all things, the Light of the world and great King (John 1:1-4), was crowned with thorns and humiliated. He hung in agony on the cross as people–the ones He had created and formed–hurled their insults. As the Apostle John elaborated earlier in his Gospel, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11, NIV).

When the hour finally came, and the Lord had received a drink of wine vinegar, He spoke, but it was not to the crowds. He did not rebuke the mockers or ask why they rejected Him. No, He made a declaration of what He accomplished through His death. Three simple words; yet they are profound: “It is finished.” His death had come, yes. But it meant much more than what the people assumed. He had borne their sins and the sins of the world. He had endured the pain of the Father turning away from Him. He had suffered the hell of punishment we deserve so that the curse of sin could be broken. The work He had come to accomplish was complete.

That is why the temple curtain tore in two, the earth shook, and tombs gave up their dead (see Matthew 27:50-52). No longer would the old way of sin and death reign, for Jesus had paid the penalty. He had, once and for all, broken the curse set in place by Adam. A new life was dawning, one marked by the undoing of sin’s consequences, culminating in Easter morning when death itself would be undone.

Though that Friday might look anything but good as the great Creator hung on the cross and darkness surrounded Him, our Lord was not defeated. He willingly gave His life to bring us healing, as John’s Gospel indicates through the inclusion of “[He] gave up his spirit” (John 19:30; also see John 10:18). It is through His wounds that we are healed.

So, we can say with confidence that what Jesus accomplished was indeed good, for it is through His death that we have life. The symbol of the cross, an instrument of torture and death, has been transformed into a symbol of our salvation. And for that, we praise our Savior.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Jesus,
Today, I remember Your death on the cross, where You bore the sins of the world and shed Your blood for me. May I not overlook the pain and loneliness You felt on the cross. I never want to trivialize what You endured, for nothing can compare to the agony and sting of separation You felt when the Father turned away from You. That was the punishment I deserved, but which You endured on my behalf. Oh, who am I that I deserve such mercy?
May I also proclaim boldly that it is Good Friday, the day You broke the curse of sin and death. Because of what you did, I have been washed clean and given the gift of eternal life. No longer does brokenness and death define my story; You declared that “It is finished.” Salvation is found in You. So it is in Your name, Jesus, I pray.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

The cross. What do you think of when you see it? How has the cross traditionally been used as a symbol, and how might this help you meditate upon the significance of Jesus’ death?
An element from Good Friday that stands out to you: the mocking crowd, overwhelming darkness, torn temple curtain, or resurrection of individuals at Jesus’ death. How might meditating on this detail help you study Jesus’ crucifixion from a fresh perspective?
Hebrews 10:10: “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time” (NLT). In what ways was Jesus’ death a one-time and complete sacrifice? Does this make you think of His cry differently, of “It is finished?”

Sophia Bricker Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.