The Three Most Explosive Words Ever Spoken

Introduction: “It Is Finished”

When Jesus hung on the cross, with His body torn, His blood poured out, and His life ebbing away, He lifted up His voice and cried out three words that shook eternity: “It is finished.”

Now let me tell you something—most preachers cut those words short. They water it down. They say Jesus was declaring, “The sacrifice for sins is finished.” But that’s not what He said. He didn’t say “the sacrifice is finished.” He said “It is finished.” And there’s a massive difference.

Because if all He meant was “the sacrifice is finished,” then the Gospel would have stopped at the cross—at His death. The Passover Lamb would have stopped at His death. The burnt offerings in the Bible would have stopped at the death.

The Gospel is not the death of Jesus alone. Paul said this through the Holy Ghost:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

If Jesus’ work ended with His death, then there would be no burial, no soul offering in hell, and no resurrection from the dead. And without the resurrection, Paul said, “ye are yet in your sins.”

So when Jesus said “It is finished,” He wasn’t declaring that the Gospel was over—He was declaring that the mission He came to accomplish was absolutely unstoppable. Every prophecy was fulfilled, every shadow of the Old Testament sacrifice pointed directly to Him, every power of Satan was broken, and the plan of God was rolling forward like thunder.

His soul would be made an offering for sin, but it would not be left in hell. His body would be buried, but it would not see corruption. And on the third day, He would rise again, proving that “It is finished” was not a cry of defeat—it was the greatest cry of victory the universe has ever heard.

Today, I’m going to show you, straight from the Scriptures, exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished.” And when you see it, you’ll realize these are not just the closing words of the crucifixion—they are the opening words of your freedom, your salvation, and your eternal victory in Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus Go to Hell or Was “IT” Finished?

Why do I want to take a close look at this? The majority of Christians and their Pastors believe that the soul of Jesus didn’t go to hell even though the Bible clearly says this. The majority of Christians and Pastors don’t believe the soul of Jesus suffered in hell. Why is this?

All because of those three most explosive words ever spoken: “It is finished.” They will say that Jesus didn’t need to go to hell because the sacrifice for sins was finished because Jesus said, “It is finished.” And they will stop there, and they will fight you to the death over that.

And they won’t listen to a sermon like this because their heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

So, again, let’s look closely at exactly what Jesus Christ said because it seems these Christians and Pastors out there won’t take a close look. If you’re out there listening today, please take a close look. We’re setting the scene here starting in verse 23. And we’re working our way up to verse 30 where Jesus says, “It is finished.”

What Was Happening to Jesus in John Chapter 19?

John 19:23-24
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.  24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jesus is now crucified or nailed to the cross right there at the start of verse 23. They took his garments. They cast lots for his coat or his vesture. Please notice in verse 24 the Bible says: “That the Scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus is fulfilling the Scriptures that prophesied of Him.

Psalm 22:18
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

In fact, “It is Finished” is closely related to “That the Scripture Might be Fulfilled.” And you see it right there as just one example. And don’t tell me this isn’t correct because I’ll show you more. Again, the words spoken by Jesus, “It is finished” are closely related to “that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” Let’s go to the very next verse. Remember, we are working our way up to verse 30.

John 19:25-27
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Jesus is on the cross crucified. He says, “Woman, behold thy Son!” John is assigned to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus. What happens next as Jesus is dying on the cross? And watch this closely as this is another example of the Scriptures being fulfilled or the prophecy being finished.

John 19:28-30
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Allow the Bible to Speak for Itself

Take a very close look again right there at the beginning as this tells you exactly what Jesus means when He says, “It is finished.” He’s explaining it to you Himself. He doesn’t say “the sacrifice for sins is finished.” He says, “It is finished.” What is finished? What is the “IT” in “IT IS FINISHED?” Have you ever really asked yourself that?

Or, did you just take what a preacher said as God’s word? The words of a preacher aren’t God’s word unless he’s repeating God’s word. If he teaches God’s word incorrectly, he lied. And we aren’t here to learn lies. We’re here to learn the truth.

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished.” Were all 100% of things in eternity now accomplished? No, that’s not what the Scriptures mean. He had not yet died at that point, He had not been buried, His soul had not been to hell for three days and three nights, He had not risen from the dead, He had not come back a second time, the end times are not complete. He had not fought at the Battle of Armageddon. He had not ruled on earth for 1,000 years. There is no new heaven and earth at this time.

ALL THINGS FOR ETERNITY ARE NOT COMPLETE. Obviously. When the perfect and Holy Scriptures right there say “Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,” it is saying that Jesus perfectly accomplished everything that He had to do to that EXACT POINT in time. He was fulfilling the Scriptures.

Jesus is Fulfilling the Scriptures Loud and Clear

Now, are you going to argue that the Scriptures mean something else? You can’t. And you won’t. Because this is exactly what the Scriptures are saying clearly and loudly RIGHT BEFORE Jesus says, “It is finished.” But let’s keep going there.

At the end of verse 28, “That the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” Jesus is fulfilling all the Scriptures concerning Himself. He had to do this. He had to finish this. The Bible is saying these things right there.

Understand why I am saying this and teaching this. Pastors are out there teaching that the phrase spoken by Jesus, “It is finished,” means that the sacrifice for sins was finished. THAT IS NOT WHAT JESUS SAID. Do not add to the word of God. You can listen to this or ignore this and continue in false doctrine. It’s up to you out there.

Verse 29 says, “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar.” The Bible is giving us another example so we’ll get this. And God puts it right before IT IS FINISHED. Verse 29 continues, “And they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” Verse 30 says, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar.”

What Was Jesus Finishing Right Before He Said It Is Finished?

Do you know what this is finishing?

Psalm 69:21
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

The Scriptures speak of Jesus. Psalm 69 speaks of Jesus. That same chapter says, “Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.” Clear language of hell as we’ve been over in past sermons.

And then, “And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

John 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Jesus said, “I THIRST.” Why did He say that? So the Scriptures would be fulfilled and the prophecy of Jesus Christ would be complete. He said “I thirst.” The Bible says, in the Old Testament, “And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

John 19:29
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Jesus knew He could not die until that last Scripture was finished and fulfilled. Because Jesus said, “I thirst,” they gave Him vinegar. The put the vinegar to His mouth. And the verse we’re focusing on all at once here.

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Scriptures Were Fulfilled or Finished

The Scriptures were fulfilled. The prophecy was finished. Everything that Jesus needed to do up to His death was now complete. Everything wasn’t finished. The Gospel wasn’t finished. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree was now finished. That was finished. But everything about the Gospel wasn’t finished. Was it? No, it wasn’t finished.

Here’s a question for you: “When Jesus spoke the words IT IS FINISHED, was He dead at that exact time?” No, Jesus wasn’t dead at that exact time because He spoke the words. His death wasn’t finished at the time He spoke the words. But do you know what was finished? All the Scriptures that needed to be fulfilled at His first coming were now finished. So, look, don’t preach lies once you’ve seen the truth of the Bible. It’s right there in all the surrounding Scriptures.

He said, “It is finished,” those three powerful words, before He died on the cross. After He said those three powerful words, the Bible says, not Josh says, the Bible says: “And he bowed His head, and gave up the Ghost.” He died after He spoke those words. He lost His life after He spoke those words. And you might say, “Well, it’s close enough.” Hey, God doesn’t do things that way. God is EXACT and PERFECT in timing in every way possible. Almost doesn’t count.

He said “It is finished” because He just fulfilled the last prophecy. “That the Scripture might be fulfilled.” If He didn’t fulfill that last prophecy before He died, the Scriptures would be broken and God would be a liar. But God cannot. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He said, I thirst so they would bring Him the vinegar and fulfill that last prophecy. Immediately after he tasted of the vinegar Jesus said, “It is finished.” And then He died after He said, “It is finished.”

His Death Wasn’t Finished When He Said “It Is Finished”

Do you understand this? His death wasn’t finished when Jesus said, “It is finished.” But He did just drink the vinegar and fulfill the last Scripture that He needed to fulfill. That was finished.

Do you understand or not? This is simple, but we allow deceivers to slightly twist the truth in the Bible. Just a little twisting of the Scriptures out of order. Do you see that? This is Satan at work. And we, as men, allow this to happen. If we stick to the Scriptures, we won’t allow this to happen. If we study the Scriptures, we won’t allow this to happen.

We’ve all made mistakes before. We admit to these mistakes, and we change our doctrine to the truth. Or, we continue in lies and lead people astray. Do not take that path.

What other proof do I have that Jesus meant He was fulfilling the Scriptures when He said, “It is finished?” We go to the Scriptures.

Other Scriptures That Support This Doctrine

If you don’t yet believe me that Jesus meant He was finished fulfilling the Scriptures up to the point of His death, then search the Scriptures yourself. How do you do this? You can start by searching for the words finish and finished in the Gospel of John. There are 4 verses. I’ll show these to you in order, from the first to the fourth or last.

John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Jesus came to finish the work God gave Him to do at His first coming.

John 5:36
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Look, I’m not skipping over verses in John, the book where Jesus says IT IS FINISHED, that have the exact words finish in every form. When Jesus says, “It is finished,” the Gospel of John is telling you EXACTLY what Jesus was finishing. He was finishing the work He had to do.

Remember, Jesus says it is finished in John Chapter 19.

John 17:4
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Up to that exact point, Jesus had finished the work in perfect order that God gave Him to do. These are the exact words of Jesus Christ. We saw in the first verse that Jesus came to finish His work. In the second verse Jesus says He came to finish the works His Father gave Him. The third verse, right there, Jesus says He has finished the work. But He hasn’t yet died on the cross in John 17. He’s saying He has finished the work up to that point in time. Just as you see in the fourth verse right here:

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

When He says “It is finished,” shouldn’t we take a cue from the prior 4 verses? Why would we add to the word of God and say that Jesus meant the sacrifice for sins was complete? Why would we use IT IS FINISHED to say that the soul of Jesus didn’t go to hell even though the Bible clearly teaches in many different Scriptures that His soul did go to hell?

Jesus finished the work God gave Him to do. IT IS FINISHED. You can continue studying the Scriptures for yourself. I am saying that Jesus is telling us that His work is to fulfill the Scriptures AS HE SAID and that He is finishing that work.

When He says, “It is finished” He is 100% completely finished doing that work AT THAT EXACT POINT in time. He didn’t say that His soul didn’t need to go to hell. He says the opposite in many other Scriptures. So don’t the three most explosive words ever spoken and lie about what Jesus said. God takes His words very seriously.

Jesus Had to Do This Work = Fulfilling the Scriptures

If you want to see more, I’m going to show you more on Sunday evening. And I want you to be here for that so you see these things. Don’t miss out on the Scriptures.

Matthew 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus had to finish fulfilling the Scriptures. That was the work He was talking about. And up to that exact point, He had finished that work. And then He died on the cross as THE SACRIFICE for our sins. That is a true statement.

People will say, “Because you think the soul of Jesus went to hell as the continuing sacrifice for our sins, then you must not believe His death on the cross was the sacrifice for our sins.” And you would be wrong. His death on the cross paid for our sins. But His soul was not left in hell. You are the one ignoring the Scriptures—whoever you are out there. I am not speaking to anyone in particular. I don’t know everything you believe out there.

We will not ignore the Scriptures here. We’re going to take them all. And if we miss something in the Scriptures, we’ll fix it. We’ll say we were wrong. And we’ll get it right as God reveals the truth to us.

Let’s pray.