Following the Master - 1  It is Finished

Take a few moments to reflect of the last words of Jesus on the Friday before the Resurrection morning. 

Think about how His words not only expressed how something was coming to an end, but also gives us clues as to how we will live differently now because of what was completed as we continue to follow Him.

(1) Matthew 27:46 “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

(2) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

(3) “I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

(4) “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

(5) “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” When Jesus saw His mother standing near the cross with the Apostle John, whom He loved, He committed His mother’s care into John’s hands. And from that hour John took her unto his own home (John 19:26-27).

(6) “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

(7) “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

This Sabbath begins the first in a series of sermons that will focus on following Jesus in which we will be exploring what that looks like. It may seem odd to begin a series with a sermon that reflects on Jesus' word's "It is Finished" rather than "It is Beginning."However, as we listen more carefully to all that was communicated in the words of Jesus in His final moments on the cross, we hear not only that He has completed what He came to do, but also that, in the process, He is giving birth to something new that has never been before.

As a part of our worship this week, we also celebrated communion - another unique experience that celebrates both what has been completed in the past - even as it looks forward in anticipation to what is going to happen because of that in the future.  The communion meal that embraces both of those realizations is what nourishes us as we continue to Follow the Master.

If you would like to listen to the service once again, or if you missed it, hear it for the first time, you can click here to go to our sermon library.