June 1

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit. — John 19:30 BSB

Though Jesus' life was short, He was fully prepared when His time came. Every day, He completed the work set before Him, so when His final hour arrived, there was nothing left undone.

We should take this lesson to heart and live as He did, ensuring that our tasks are finished when our end comes. But what exactly was finished when Jesus bowed His head on the cross?

A famous painting shows Christ lifted up, with a multitude of saints emerging from darkness into the light of His cross. There's no doubt that He had a vision of redemption as He hung there, as Scripture tells us that He endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.

"It is finished" was a victory cry, marking the completion of His suffering. Though He went to the grave, He didn't stay there. He rose again as a glorious conqueror, and because He lives, all His followers will live as well.