After Jesus gets a drink of the sour vinegar the Roman soldiers were carrying, he says "It is finished. Then he bows his head and gives up the ghost.

Jesus himself, according to John, already knew that everything was accomplished, but he wants the bystanders at the cross to know it too. Therefore, he pronounces this. It is accomplished.

Note that he does not say 'I have accomplished it'. He says 'it is accomplished'. Everything the Father had instructed Him to do was accomplished. Everything the prophets said about His suffering has been fulfilled. With the words "it is accomplished," Jesus indicates that His death on the cross was is the crowning glory of his work.

His death on the cross is the culmination of the task he accomplished in obedience to the Father. He dies the death we deserve. He makes the sacrifice we cannot make. He dies for us to bring us back to the Father.

Then Jesus bows his head and gives up the spirit. No one deprives Him of the spirit of life, but He Himself surrenders His spirit into the hands of the Father. Jesus' death is not just a departure from earthly life, but also a coming home to the Father.
And we who believe may soon follow him in this.

➡️ Want to dive deeper into the Bible? Try our Study Bible app for free for 30 days

More than 25,000 pages of Bible study material

The Study Bible app offers deep insight into the Bible with comprehensive word studies, commentaries, concordances and theological articles.

Download the app