"It Is Finished"

Today is Good Friday. Those who are Christian remember the sacrifice that was made for us; his death provided the fulfillment of scriptures and a way to Heaven for all those who believe.

Jesus' mother, Mary, was present through all the events leading up to his death. As a mother, I cannot imagine the anguish and personal suffering she endured as she stood there helplessly watching her son in his sacrifice. I would have wanted to fight with my life to keep that pain and torture from my son- the lioness leaping strategically onto the scene inflicting a broad threat that would have quieted the crowds. I like to think thhe earth would have rumbled under their feet at the sound of that threat. I'm sure the thought must have crossed her mind. She had known a day like this would come.

I'm so thankful.

The Death of Jesus; John 19:28-37 (New International Version)

28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture
would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was
there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop
plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus
said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave
up his spirit.

31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a
special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses
during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies
taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man
who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they
came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a
sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and
his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so
that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would
be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"[a]
37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have
pierced."[b]