What does the Bible say about Jesus saying it is finished?

The phrase 'It is finished' spoken by Jesus while on the cross marks the culmination of His earthly ministry and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It indicates that the work of atonement and reconciliation between God and humanity has been fully accomplished. In John 19:30, Jesus articulates the completion of His sacrificial role as the Lamb of God, who came to seek and save the lost. This work encompasses not just the physical suffering He endured, but also the spiritual work of bearing the full weight of God's wrath against sin on behalf of His people.

This declaration is pivotal as it signals that the ceremonial law and continual sacrifices of the Old Testament have been fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 10 emphasizes that Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all, eliminating the need for further offerings for sin. The believer's assurance rests on the fact that through Christ's finished work, they are justified, sanctified, and reconciled to God. Thus, Jesus’ final words encapsulate the core of the Gospel — that in Him, the path for sinners to be reconciled to a holy God has been established and completed.