“Tetelestai,” He cried, bowed His head, and died.

The Greek word is translated as “It is finished.” It is a business transaction term in New Testament times to indicate that a bill had been paid in full. When Jesus cried out those four syllables, He meant that the penalty for our sins that are so offensive to a holy God are taken care of. They’re now paid in full by His substitutionary death on the cross and later His resurrection which indicates the acceptance of the payment of God the Father. Claiming to have settled a bill without acknowledgment and official receipts is pointless. May utang pa rin.

Have you ever wondered what the mob and the cowering disciples were thinking when they heard “tetelestai?”

“It is finished!”

Pilate must have been thinking, “Done with appeasing the mob.”

“It is finished!”

Pilate’s wife who had a bad dream about persecuting Jesus, must have been thinking, “This is bad luck.”

“It is finished!”
The mob must have been thinking, “Yes, you are! HAHA King of the Jews…HA!”

“It is finished!”
The high priests must have been thinking, “Yes, you’re over and done with!”

“It is finished!”
The Roman guards must have been thinking, “Who’s the next criminal to be hung?”

“It is finished!”
The disciples must have been thinking, “How can this be? Wasn’t He the Messiah?”

“It is finished!”
Satan and his cohort must have been thinking, “We won!”

The only ones who fully understood what was finished was the Holy Trinity who kept quiet about its truth for three days and three nights….