A Greater Type of King Who Was the Perfect Sacrifice – April 7, 2023

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that everything had been finished . . . Jesus said, “I am thirsty” . . . When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”
John 19:25-28,30

A Greater Type of King Who Was the Perfect Sacrifice

“It is finished.” Quite honestly, I’m about to say that. This is the fifth consecutive devotion I have authored, and in 288 more words I’m going to close out my computer and say, “It is finished!”

Finishing a project is satisfying. It’s one thing to be finished, but it’s another thing for it to be done well or to be done perfectly. I really won’t be finished in 288 words (241 now). I will go back and look over the devotions I’ve written. I’ll find typos, bad grammar, and lack of flow. Then I’ll edit before I submit. All that for a project that just took a few days to complete.

When Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’ it wasn’t just an exhaustive, “Whew, I’m glad I’m done with that!” It was an emphatic, “It’s done. Everything that needed to be done has been done, and it’s perfect. No edits. No adjustments. It’s perfect!”

Jesus didn’t just die to take away our sins. He also lived to give us his perfection. For thirty-three years, Jesus faced endless temptations. And for thirty-three years, he was perfect, right to the very end. One of the last things Jesus did before bowing his head and dying was taking care of his mother. He kept the fourth commandment perfectly. He told Mary, “Woman, here is your son,” and his disciple, “Here is your mother.” Jesus was perfect. Which means he didn’t have to die. Yet, he did anyway. Why? So he could be our perfect substitute.

This devotion is intended to be read on the day we observe Jesus’ death. As we ponder Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, cherish that it’s not just a “good” Friday, but it was a “perfect” Friday.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for being the perfect sacrifice. Amen.