A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of March 25-29, 2024
MONDAY
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:28-30
Jesus knows that all things that He came to do had been fulfilled. What did Jesus come to do? Jesus came to reconcile man to God, (among other things), and to demonstrate the Kingdom of God, which is not of this world. He came to bring God back to man by what He taught as well as what he demonstrated. He came to destroy the works of the devil and to usher in a new covenant… one that would change mankind forever.
He did nothing unless He saw the Father do it. He was an imitator and a demonstrator of the love of the Father God. His overwhelming work was that of giving His life as a ransom for many, that He might rescue us from the hand of our enemy. John concludes his gospel by saying that if we wrote all the things that Jesus has done all the books in the world could not contain them. And yet, He lives.
He is both King and Lord. He has all power in heaven and in earth given to Him. He received it lawfully; He did not steal power like Satan did. His work was a complete work.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Hebrews 13:8 ~ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forevermore.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
March 25: Exodus 36, John 15, Proverbs 12, Ephesians 5
March 26: Exodus 37, John 16, Proverbs 13, Ephesians 6
March 27: Exodus 38, John 17, Proverbs 14, Philippians 1
March 28: Exodus 39, John 18, Proverbs 15, Philippians 2
March 29: Exodus 40, John 19, Proverbs 16, Philippians 3
March 30: Leviticus 1, John 20, Proverbs 17, Philippians 4
March 31: Leviticus 2-3, John 21, Proverbs 18, Colossians 1
TUESDAY
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:28-30
Jesus finished fulfilling what the scripture says about Him. The word was made flesh. The prophetic words that were spoken of the Messiah took on human flesh and dwelt among men. He finished showing how much God loves us by taking on the form of a man and taking on all our weaknesses.
Greater love has no man than this, that He would give His life for His friend. He enters into a covenant of strong friendship with us when we are least loveable and then gives His life in exchange for ours so that the covenant can be carried out flawlessly. He is our assurance of better things. His blood speaks better things. His blood speaks love, reconciliation, righteousness, forgiveness, and eternal life.
He gives His life in exchange for ours. He then gives His life inside of us to insure that we can carry out our obedience to the covenant. All this is part of the finished work of Calvary. There is nothing left undone by out Lord. There is no work left to do on our part. We only have to yield to His spirit dwelling within us, and use His power to accomplish what will benefit us, and His Kingdom.
WEDNESDAY
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:28-30
Why did Jesus say, “it is finished?” Why were these words so important for Him to utter? These appear to be the last recorded words that He spoke as a man on earth before His death. These are the words that He left for those standing by to hear. What do we do with the last earthly words spoken by a person? We have a clue to what is important in that person’s life.
Finishing the work He came do was important to Jesus, but what is finished for us? If Calvary represents a finished work, then what is finished for us? Calvary represents the finishing of all earthly business. Many people have “issues” that must be dealt with. We’ve been hurt, disappointed, left alone, cheated, misused. This is unfinished business.
Somebody owes us something. We are owed an apology, perhaps money, an education, and a family. Whatever things are missing is finished at the cross. The cross is the only place where everything is finished. The cross represents an end to earthly strife, loss, condemnation, and fear. How is this affected?
THURSDAY
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Luke 23:34
Jesus asks forgiveness from heaven to come down to earth. He allows heaven to touch earth in a way that will open the door for the shedding of innocent blood to be forgiven. This represents the overcoming power of the blood of Jesus.
Remember that the blood of righteous Abel cried out to God from the ground? That blood cried out for vengeance. The blood of Jesus speaks better things. It speaks forgiveness. His blood even overcomes the taking of an innocent life. It speaks forgiveness for the most unspeakable acts. It speaks that any sin can be forgiven. It puts all our issues to shame. It makes all sin committed against us of minor importance.
If an innocent man can cry out for forgiveness for the taking of His life, surely we can lay down all issues against us. Reconciliation is possible because Calvary finished sin in such a way that nobody owes anybody anything anymore… Not after you have taken a trip to the cross.
FRIDAY
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Psalm 2:1-4
Jesus’ crucifixion is happening at the same time that this prophecy occurs. The kings of the earth are setting themselves against the anointed of the Lord, but He who sits in the heavens is laughing at them. Could it be that while His son is dying, the Father is laughing? Could it be that this should be our attitude at the enemy’s attempts to keep us bound in unfinished business? Perhaps we need to learn the finishing lesson given at the cross.
While the world may be trying to get us concerned about getting even, or getting respect or not being abused by someone, we can identify with our Father in the heavens and laugh at the enemy’s attempts to keep us from leaving our unfinished business at the foot of the cross. At Calvary, God opens the account books from heaven and He shows that we can all have a zero balance. We can all be forgiven of anything that we have done, and we can forgive anything that has been done to us. In fact, He says that if we do not forgive others, neither will our Heavenly Father forgive us.
When we bring our concerns to the Lord and recognize that there is no more unfinished earthly business, then we can release all debts and accept the Lord’s verdict that “IT IS FINISHED.”