Good Friday Service at the Chapel was based on the seven last words or phrases of Jesus, and Bro. Wayne and I alternated the readings. One of the scriptures that I read was John 19:28-30 that concluded with Jesus saying “It is Finished”. The Greek word translated here is “tetelestai”.

Its use here is in the perfect tense which indicates an action completed in the past with permanent results. It signifies the fulfillment of redemption, debt payment, and victory that lasts forever.

That word can have several meanings depending on the context. When used in accounting it means “Paid in Full,” or the debt is fully paid. When used in a military context it is “complete victory”, and was shouted by a returning army from war signifying they had totally defeated their enemy. When used in a courtroom context it means “a sentence has been fully served”. It was evidence of freedom.  Some interpretations suggest that a "Certificate of Debt" listing a person's crimes was nailed to their cell door; once the sentence was finished, a judge would sign the document and write tetelestai across it to certify the prisoner's release. 

You may have heard the “paid in full” part before, but it is much more than that – it means at the moment of Jesus’ death your sentence for your sins has been fully served your freedom and release was guaranteed. You now have complete victory over sin and death, because Jesus paid your debt in full, Jesus paid it all! Thank you Lord Jesus!