The task, according to Luke 19:10, was to seek and to save the lost. In order to do that, His mission required two components that only the Son of God could meet. First, He had to live a perfect life, satisfying the Father’s will, and therefore win a righteousness that would be credited to those who trust in Him. On the cross, He knew that part of His mission was achieved. Second, His life, suffering, and death must serve as the perfect sacrifice and substitutionary atonement for the sins of the people of God. To accomplish this, God’s Son would leave glory, humble Himself as a servant, take on our flesh, endure shame, temptation, denial, betrayal, bitter opposition, false accusation, physical beating, brutal torture, and most dreaded of all, a sense of separation from the Father. As the cloud of sin hung upon Him as He hung upon the cross, He would cry out in spiritual agony. At the moment we find on the cross in John 19:28, He has completed that mission.

However, in order to make sure that no stone is left unturned, no scripture regarding His first coming is left unfulfilled, He cries out, “I thirst,” before He cries out, “It is finished.” In accordance with Psalm 69:21 He drinks the sour wine, and in that last moment before His death, He perfectly fulfilled every Messianic prophecy and promise ordained for His first coming.

Now, and only now, in total sovereign control over His life, He cries out, “It is finished,” bows His head, and gives up His spirit. It is finished. It is done. Redemption is accomplished. Salvation is totally won for everyone who would trust in Him. He dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” for you and me! Nothing left undone and nothing left that we have to achieve or merit. It is finished!