Hallelujah! What a Savior!
So when Jesus had received the sour wine,
He said, It is finished!
and bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
(John 19:30)
A person’s last words are very important. Among the last words I recall with great respect, appreciation and admiration are those spoken by an American patriot, Nathan Hale, before he was hanged by British troops during the fight for American independence.
At the request of General Washington, Hale volunteered for a spy mission behind enemy lines. He obtained significant information about the enemy but the plot was uncovered; he was apprehended and condemned to death. On Sept. 22, 1776, Hale faced the executioner alone. He asked for the attendance of a clergyman but was denied. His request for a Bible was also denied. Before he was executed, these were his parting words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
As Jesus died on the cross, these were his parting words: "It is finished!" (John 15:13). The great hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander explains why Christ's death is so important to mankind. There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin, she says. Only Christ could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.
His death ushered in new privileges for those who accept his offer of eternal life. The writer of the book of Hebrews says this concerning the significance of the death of Jesus:
“Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:11-12)
Jesus’ sacrificial death is more important than the sacrifices the priests offered. The priests took the lives of animals, but Jesus gave his own life for our sins. The priests made a sacrifice to cover sins; Jesus made a sacrifice to remove sins. The high priest was the only one who could enter the holiest place; Jesus made it possible for everyone to enter the holiest place. The priests represented man to God, but Jesus represented man to God and God to man.
The priests needed the assistance of others; Jesus did it all by himself. The priests remain standing; Jesus sat down. The priests were concerned about sin; Jesus is concerned about sin and salvation. The priests offered sacrifices year after year; Jesus offered a sacrifice once and for all times never to be repeated. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The death of Jesus was an absolute necessity. When Nathan Hale gave up his life, he did so to benefit others. Caiaphas explained this important principle to the council of his day: “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Because Jesus paid the penalty for sin, there is no condemnation to those who put their faith and trust in him as their Savior. When they stand before God, they will not face the penalty of sin because Jesus paid it all. Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Jesus not only paid the price for sin, but he provides his followers inner strength to overcome both the power and presence of sin. In his book “How In This World Can I Be Holy?,” Erwin Lutzer discusses the principle of being in contact with the world without being contaminated by the world. Or, as another Christian puts it, light can shine on unclean objects without becoming contaminated by those objects. Jesus said to his followers, “You are the light of the world.” He has given them the power to live in a broken world and not be stained by that world. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The third day following his death, Jesus rose triumphantly, conquering death, hell and the grave. His resurrection is the final validation of all that he claimed to be. Many have made similar claims, but they are still in their graves. Jesus is alive! By his resurrection, he justifies Abraham’s faith. He answered Job’s question: “If a man dies, can he live again?” He silenced all his critics. By his resurrection, he provides forgiveness for all our trespasses. He wiped away the offenses that were against us by nailing them to the cross. He finished the task and is now seated in the most exalted place.
Lifted up was he to die;
’It is finished!’ was his cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Celebrating the resurrection of our Savior,
Pastor David Henry
© 2008 Calvary Baptist Church Shawnee
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