It is Finished

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30a).

The below is a poetic, responsive reading, which I wrote for the Good Friday service at The Well, reflecting on Jesus’ statement, “It is finished.”

To the Devil and his minions

To Caesar and his legions

To the High Priest and his oppression

It is finished.

To the compromise of the Sadducees

To the hypocrisy of Pharisees

To the vengeance of the Zealots

It is finished.

To Abraham’s distrust of God’s promise

To Moses’ trek through the wilderness

To Daniel’s struggle in Babylon

It is finished.

To Adam’s morning with the Serpent

To Job’s afternoon with his accusers

To David’s night with Bathsheba

It is finished.

To the woman caught in adultery

To the hungry five thousand

To the dead Lazarus

It is finished.

To Peter his Denier

To Judas his Betrayer

To the Twelve his Deserters

It is finished.

To coldblooded killers

To ruthless dictators

To hatred everywhere

It is finished.

To the prostitute’s pimp

To the child’s molester

To the corner’s dealer

It is finished.

To secret sins of our hearts

To our failure to love our neighbors

To the rejection of our Father

It is finished.

To those who can’t accept him

To those who won’t accept him

To those who dare to accept him

It is finished.

To deceit, anger, malice,

Racism, sexism, murder, greed,

Rape, hypocrisy, adultery;

To failure to rest in God’s grace,

Live in his image,

And accept his promises.

It is finished.

Do you believe it?