The first
question that comes to mind on hearing these
words is, Just what is accomplished? Is it
just the end or completion of his suffering, a
release from the terrible pain of his body,
hanging as his hands and arms bore his own
weight for so long?
Do the words mark simply the end to the jeers
and sneers, now that the crowd senses his
death is near?
Do the words refer to something deeper? – a
cry of achievement, a task carried out and a
result brought about.
He is alone now after having his final drink,
and the painting depicts a work of joy with
its variegated yellows denoting exultation.
A cry that shatters the sky, opening up the
heavens with its sense of triumph.
The price of redemption has been paid and the
grip of the evil powers of
darkness is loosened. These powers that had
waged war, spurring mankind
on to commit what the evil powers
thought was the final end to all
goodness in the universe – the death of the
Son of God.
Christ has overcome these forces not by
might or meeting force with
force, but by submission to the will of God
his Father. Man is reconciled
with God through this one act of his Son.
All beings can now see the depth
of evil that had come from the rebellion of
Satan, the brightest of the
angelic host. No wonder then that all of
creation joined in this release
from the stranglehold of evil. The good news
was this – that there was
another way of fighting evil and that was
the way of love: a love that
was self emptying (Philippians
2:11).
This was the way of Jesus Christ, which
revealed this outflowing love
at the heart of the Trinity. Non-violent,
unselfish, and gentle in nature,
it was to become the way of a new people of
God. They would in turn suffer
for this way, this means of subverting evil.
The sun had risen on a new
era. Everything was different, now that
these words were accepted by God
the Father. From now on there would be help
at hand; the Holy Spirit was
promised when the Son returned to the
Father, and this Spirit would support
and confirm everything the Son had said and
done. A helper in times of
stress and weakness who would encourage and
energize the people of God.
These words then are not the sign of defeat
or humiliation – nor of dejection
and throwing in of the towel, as it were –
but words of triumph in the
face of all that evil could muster. Truly
the greatest words ever spoken
by the greatest person who walked this
earth.
The resurrection would follow, the natural
follow-on of this great deed.
