The thing about sacrifices in the Old Testament, the sacrifices were consumed (Lev 9:24, Judges 6:21, 1kings 18:38). Even the sacrifices in the temple that were burned were burned until there was nothing left but maybe ashes. The sacrifices were not able to overcome the fury of God. God’s power was too awesome. Wrath was not and could not be satisfied completely or permanently.
While Jesus hung on the cross, the judgment on God fell on Him. The fury, anger, and righteous indignation of God the Father against all unrighteousness was poured out on the Son. Wave after wave after wave of the wrath of a Holy God pounded the Son without mercy, over and over during that time.
So merciless was the event that the Son for the first time addressed the Father as “My God”. He stood as us when He cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me”? The tender fellowship that the Son had with the Father before eternity, was for the first time removed.
Words fail me in describing the terror of the Lord that descended upon the Son. But after all of God’s perfect, righteous and complete judgment fell on this Sacrifice, for the first time in history the Sacrifice remained. The Sacrifice was greater than the judgment. The Sacrifice exhausted God’s wrath for the first and last time.
When the wrath was complete, the Son cried out with Words that resounded throughout eternity. Words that tore the space time continuum. Words that caused the forces of darkness to bow and shake with uncontrollable fear. Words that shook the heavens and earth.
“It is finished!!!!”
Then He bowed His head, and like a King dismisses a servant, He gave up (dismissed) His Spirit. For no man took His life, but He freely gave it for us. Because the sacrifice worked, God raised Him from the dead. He rose again three days later so all who would believe on Him would be given Eternal Life as a free gift.
The issue of sin is so over with for the believer. Nothing else can or will be done to further God’s complete acceptance of us because of the Son. This Sacrifice removed all sin, not just past ones like the blood of bulls and goats did.
Jesus is our Sacrifice, yet He lives, never to die again (a living sacrifice). He is in us, and we are in Him. We died with Him, yet we live, yet not us (a living Sacrifice in us). Paul said that if this is the case, isn’t it reasonable that we present our bodies a living sacrifice unto Him, with no confidence in our own ability or our own righteousness.
“It is Finished” 