This past week has been a full one for all the pastors in the area.
Trying to do Holy Week, Holy Thursday and Easter while social distancing was quite the juggling feat. In fact, I almost forgot to get this article written because of all the irons in the fire.
As I reflect on this past week, I am struck by three words that Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished.” After all the preaching, healing, ministry, this is how it ends. After the abuse, brutality, blood and torture this is how it ends.
But what is “IT.”
To answer that we have to go back to the beginning.
When humanity fell, due to wanting to be like God rather than having a relationship with God, things started moving. Machinery was put into play.
You see, what humanity did was open up sin and death upon the world.
By not wanting to be with God, we put limitations on our lives. But, at the very moment we fell, God had been at work bringing us back to him. His plan of salvation for the world was put into play.
It took time for we are a hardheaded bunch. It took rules, discipline and proof that God meant business.
We would get closer to God and then fall away. Prophets and Kings would lead us to and away from the holy.
Finally, God sent his only begotten son, Jesus. Jesus faced the cross and overcame the two enemies of humanity — sin and death.
When he professed “It is finish,” the battle was over. Sin and death had been vanquished on their own turf. The cross, an instrument of torture and pain, the ultimate symbol of sin and death, became the ultimate symbol of salvation and eternal life.
“It is finished” means the old order of things is done.
“It is finished” means death has no victory, and sin no longer rules.
“It is finished” means we have new life, new hope and new beginnings.
Those three words on the cross, the last words on the cross, completed the plan God put into place to bring his children home.
Then three days later, something happens.
The tomb Christ was laid in was empty. The stone rolled away, and the savior raised from the dead.
The very gates of Hades could not hold the son of God. Life eternal is ours for the asking.
So, as we proceed into the post Easter season, what are you going to do about the new chance at eternal life? What are you going to do now that your sins can be forgiven?
How are you going to live out this second chance for redemption?
I have a few suggestions, and all include getting involved in your church.
Yes, even with this social distancing, you can still do church. Your pastor is just a phone call, text message, face time, e-mail, etc. … away.
You can still be the church because of those three words, “It is finished.”
Christ said those three words, “It is finished,” so we could proclaim these three words: HE IS RISEN!
God bless, and I look forward to seeing you in church.
Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.