“It is Finished!”

Wood creaked, tendons popped, raspy lungs filled with air, and the Lamb of God pushed against the nails and lifted Himself up on the cruel cross one last time.

“IT IS FINISHED! He cried in triumph.

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46

This day, in the realms of time and eternity, our Savior will go where no one else on earth or in Heaven can go, and will do for us what no one else can do. He is our High Priest, and this is our Day of Atonement.

He sacrifices Himself on the all consuming altar of the cross, for He is Christ our Sacrifice.

From His spear-pierced side flows water as well as blood for He is Christ our Sanctification, our Living Water.

Passing through the Holy Tabernacle of His life and ministry, He is the golden lampstand, Christ our Light.

Like showbread, He is our Bread of Life, and like incense He is our Intercessor, the Mediator of the New Testament.

He is also the Veil, the Way into the Presence of the Father for us.

So in His final act of ultimate sacrifice, Christ tears Himself away from His body, and sends His Spirit Godward.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Matthew 27:51

Yonder in the portals of glory myriad legions of holy Cherubim, gaze fixed on their Lord of Hosts, finally hear the word they have been longing to hear from the Father.

“Go!”

Instantly they spread their wings, leap from Heaven’s precipice, and cascade downward in a celestial waterfall toward that wretched hill.

Their King is coming Home.

Like guided missiles they plummet through the sky, bearing down on the awful scene, guided by the brilliant Light of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, now separated from His broken body.

In a holy hurricane of glory they swarm around him, scattering darkness and sending demons scurrying for cover. Billowing clouds of His faithful ministers hail the conquering King, the Lord of Hosts, and prepare to act as escort for the triumphal entry of the Spirit of Jesus into Heaven.

Through the sky above Jerusalem they escort Him, beyond the sun and stars they go, to the Celestial City they accompany Him. Up the sides of the Holy Mountain of fire they shout His return, and into the very Temple of Heaven itself they announce His arrival.

There is Jehovah, the One True God, sitting upon the Throne, high and lifted up. Surrounded by an emerald rainbow, He is attended by the billowing clouds of a hundred million angels shouting “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty!”

And there now stands the Son, Beloved of the Father, the very Heart of Heaven. He has finished the godly task and completed the work His Father had set before Him. He has drained the Cup, paid the ultimate price, and claimed the ultimate victory.

How true ring the words of Heaven’s fantastic creatures in their adoration of this Christ, our Savior:

“…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12

But even now, in this moment of glory and triumph, His thoughts and actions are not for Himself, for He has Priestly work, intercessory work to perform.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands…but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Hebrews 9:24

It is there, in the true Holy of Holies, before the real Mercy Seat, under the radiant gaze of His loving Father, that Christ presents His offering.

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all…who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God… Hebrews 9:12, 14

Blood of Man, blood of God, blood of Heaven, is presented in Heaven for us by our High Priest for God’s consideration.

We the fallen, hold our breath.

Will God accept our High Priest? Will He accept the Sacrifice? Will it be presented well enough; will it be good enough; will it be enough? Will atonement be made and accepted that our sins be forgiven?

The Ancient of Days gathers Himself in clouds of celestial glory, amid the Mercy Seat of His Throne, attended by innumerable angels. He looks upon our High Priest standing before Him in perfect righteousness, and examines the Blood of the Sacrifice, the Blood of Christ.

And He is satisfied!

Christ our High Priest is accepted, His intercession effective, the Blood of the Lamb is found to be more than sufficient for the forgiveness and cleansing of all sin.

God is well please, our sins are forgiven, and it is forever will with our souls.

And so with the piercing of His side, the tearing of the Veil of His flesh, the Way into the Holy of Holies is thrown open wide for us.

Scripture References:

John 14:6, 19:34-35

Hebrews 4:14, 9:12, 14, 24, 10:19-23

Hebrews 10:19-20

Luke 23:46

Matthew 27:51

Isaiah 6:1-4

Revelation 5:12

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