Thank God, no matter what. Thank God, well
with our soul. Turn with me, if you would, to
John chapter 19. I want to begin by telling you
that I have good news. I have wonderful news. John chapter 19. Look with me, if you would, at
verse 30. John 19, verse 30. It says, when Jesus, therefore,
had received the vinegar, He said, is finished. I have titled this message, It
is Finished. Isn't that wonderful news? It is finished. Now what I'd
like for us to do is spend our time seeing What is finished? That's how I'd like for us to
spend this time in our message. What did the Lord Jesus Christ
finish? What did he finish? Our brother
just read to us in John 17. If you look back over at John
17, verse four, it says, The Lord Jesus Christ said to
his father, John 17, verse four, I have glorified thee on the
earth. I have finished the work which
thou gavest me to do. When our Lord said, it is finished,
what he was saying was, father, the work that you gave me to
do, I finished it. I wish men and women could come
to know this. Truly, truly come to know this.
I finished the work. I finished the work. Now our
question this morning is, what was the work? What did he finish? The work. Well, what was the
work? What was this great work? that
was announced all through the Old Testament. If you really
want to know what the Old Testament is all about, here it is. Someone
is coming to do a work. That's what the Old Testament
is all about. All right? What was it? What was it? I've
enjoyed studying for this message in a way that I can't remember
studying for a message. This has blessed me so much.
and I pray this blesses you. I pray the Lord will bless this. We're gonna search the scriptures. I'm just gonna go ahead and warn
you. We're gonna go through the scriptures and ask the Lord to
bless this to your heart. I pray he will make this to be
a blessing, all right? Go with me, if you would, to
Isaiah 7. Isaiah chapter 7 and look with
me at verse 14. Therefore, the Lord himself shall
give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive. a virgin. That was announced
the moment that Adam and Eve sinned in the garden against
God. The moment they sinned in the garden, the Lord God declared
to them the remedy for their sin. As soon as they sinned,
He told them the remedy for their sin. He said, it's the woman's
seed. A man is going to be born, not
from the corruptible seed of a mortal man, but from the incorruptible
seed of the Holy Spirit of God. That man born of a virgin will
come to do a work. Verse 14 says, therefore, the
Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son and shall call his name. Emmanuel. What does that mean? Emmanuel. Look at Isaiah eight, the end
of verse eight, Isaiah eight, the end of verse eight says,
Oh, Emmanuel. We're talking about Emmanuel
here. What does that name mean? Look at the end of verse 10,
God with us. God with us. Let that sink in. God with us. A virgin is going to conceive
and bring forth a son. And this child that will be born
is God with us. Look at Isaiah nine, verse six. For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. This child's name is the Mighty
God. This child's name is the Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace. He's coming. He's coming. He, he is coming. Look at Isaiah 11. The top of my page, the heading
at the top says the peaceable kingdom of Christ. This is talking
about the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 11, verse one, there shall
come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow
out of his roots and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the Lord. and shall make him of quick understanding
in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge after the
sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears,
but with righteousness shall he judge the poor." and reproved
with equity for the meek of the earth. He shall smite the earth
with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall
he slay the wicked. Verse five says, in righteousness
shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness, the girdle
of his reins. He's coming and he's going to
do it. All of the Old Testament cried, he is coming and he's
coming to do a work. Look with me at Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40 verse 10 says, behold, the Lord God will come. You see that capital L lowercase
O R D that's Jesus Christ. The Lord God will come with strong
hand and his arm shall rule for him. Behold, his reward is with
him and his work before him. He's coming and he's coming to
do a work and he's going to be successful in it. He's going
to be, look at Isaiah 42. The heading at the top of my
page says, this is the office of Christ. Speaking of the Lord,
Jesus Christ, verse one says, behold my servant. This is the
father speaking of Christ, the son behold my servant, whom I
uphold mine elect. I choose him. in whom my soul
delighteth, I've put my spirit upon him. He shall bring forth
judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed
shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He
shall bring forth judgment unto truth. Now watch verse 4. It
says, He shall not fail. You know where men and women
go wrong? It's when they think he failed.
When they preach a message that cries, he failed. He didn't do
the work. Now you're gonna have to. You're
gonna have to pick up the pieces. He started it and you're gonna
have to pick it up where he left it off and bless his heart. He
shall not fail. He's not gonna fail. He's coming
to do a work and he's not going to fail. Look at right here,
Isaiah 43. Verse 13, it says, yea, before
the day was, I am he, and there is none that can deliver out
of my hand. I will work, and who shall let
it? I will work, he said, and nobody's
gonna stop it. Nobody's gonna stop me. Now,
what is this work? What was the work that he came
to do? Turn with me, if you would, to Matthew chapter one. Matthew 1 verse 18 says, Now the birth of Jesus Christ
was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph
before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy
Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being
a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a son, and
thou shalt call his name Savior. That's what the name Jesus means,
Savior. Thou shalt call his name Jesus
for he shall save his people from their sins. He shall come, he shall do this
work, he shall not fail. He shall save his people from
their sins. Verse 22 says, now all this was
done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us." What work did
Christ come to do? He came to save His people. That
was His work. Did He do it? He most certainly
did. Now regarding his work, consider
some of these things with me. All right, just consider some
of these things with me. Why was Christ born of a virgin? Let's just consider some of these
things. Why did he come as an infant? Why didn't he just come? He's coming again and He's just
coming. Why did God come as an infant? Why was He born into Bethlehem? Why did He orchestrate such inconvenient
circumstances so that He would be born in Bethlehem specifically? Why Bethlehem? Why was there no room for him
in the inn? Why were all the hotel rooms
taken? Why of all places was he laid
in a manger? Of all the places that are on
this earth, why a manger? Here's the answer. It was so
he could announce his work. The answer to every one of those
questions is so that he could declare his work. Turn with me, if you would, to
Luke chapter two. Luke 2 verse 1 says, it came
to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria and all went
to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went
up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the
city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of
the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused
wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Verse seven says, and she brought forth her firstborn son. Why? It goes on to say and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes. Why? And laid him in a manger. Why? Because there was no room
for them in the end. Why? Verse 8 says, And there
were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping
watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,
Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto
you. You shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Why would that be a
sign to them? If you came to any newborn baby,
wouldn't you expect to find it wrapped in a blanket? Any newborn
baby, wouldn't you expect to find it
wrapped in a blanket? That is not what those angels were saying.
Let me read to you, this is a historical, just factual, explanation of
what those angels were saying. All right. This is just history.
That's all this is. Mangers were feeding troughs and in ancient Israel, they were
made of stone and very protective. That is why priest who lived
near Bethlehem near a hill known for raising sacrificial lambs
would put lambs in them. They were concrete, very protective. All right. So priest who lived
near Bethlehem, um, yeah, priest would put lambs in them. Okay. Not all the lambs. just the ones they thought were
without blemish and suitable for the blood sacrifices that
took place twice a day, sacrifices to cover sin. The priest wanted
to keep the lambs without bumps and bruises. So they'd wrap them
up tightly, they'd swaddle them, wrapping them in cloths, like
precious and terribly fragile bottles of wine. Once they saw,
this one is without spot and without blemish, don't let it
hurt itself, don't let it get a bruise, don't let it wrap it
up tightly, tight, tight, tight, so it can't move and put it in
a concrete trough. There was only a small group
of people who would understand this practice and its significance
besides the priest. And that was the shepherds, the
shepherds of the sacrificial flock. And they were the very
ones who heard the words, you will find a baby. Go to Bethlehem. You will find a baby wrapped
in cloths, swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Those
shepherds knew what the cloths and the manger meant. This will
be a sign to you, the angel said. And it was. It would not have
been a sign to many, but to them, most definitely. And this sign
was staggering. The long-expected king wasn't
headed to a palace he was headed to a sacrifice. And they knew what that sacrifice
meant. Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled. As soon as those shepherds were
told this, verse 13 says, suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God
in the highest. and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men. And it came to pass as the angels
were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one
to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing
which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us. And they came with haste and
found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. When they saw that baby wrapped
in cloths, lying in a manger, what they saw was a male of the
first year. Why born of a virgin? To prove
this is God. It's not just a man, this is
God. Why an infant? That's a male
of the first year. Now he's eternal, but that sign
to them was a male of the first year. Why Bethlehem? That's where
the sacrifices were made. Why was there no room in the
inn? He had to be laid in a manger. That was the sign. Verse 17,
and when they had seen, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child, and all they that
heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
She pondered all those things that were happening to her. She
pondered the fact that she just delivered a child that was not
born of a man. She pondered what the shepherd
said happened to them and what the significance of it was. Eight
days later, they brought this child to the temple according
to the custom of the law, and they ran into a man named Simeon. Right here, verse 27, Simeon
came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought
in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then Simeon took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and
said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according
to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. which thou
hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten
the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.' And Joseph
and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold,
this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel."
He said, Mary, this is the Savior. This is the accomplisher of the
work of our salvation. And Mary pondered that in her
heart. At that moment, a prophetess
named Anna walked in and as soon as she saw him, look at verse
38, she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the
Lord and spake of him. to all them that looked for redemption
in Jerusalem." She said, if you're looking for redemption back to
God, here He is. God's provided redemption. Twelve
years later, Mary and Joseph thought they lost Him. They went
looking for Him. And when they found Him, Mary
said, why did you do that to us? We were so worried. Look
at verse 49. And He said unto them, How is
it that you sought me? Know ye not that I must be about
my father's business?" He said, I have a work to do, that's why.
My people need a righteousness and I'm going to earn it for
them. My people need a payment of blood and I'm going to pay
it for them. In John 4, he said, my meat is to do the will of
Him that sent me and to finish His work. In John 9, he said,
I must work the works of Him that sent me. I must. Now turn
with me to Luke 22. Verse 14, Luke 22, verse 14,
and when the hour was come, he sat down and the 12 apostles
with him, and he said unto them, with desire, I have desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say unto you,
I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the
kingdom of God. And he took the cup and gave
thanks and said, take this and divide it among yourselves. For
I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until
the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread and gave thanks
and break it and gave unto them saying, this is my body which
is given for you. This do in remembrance of me. Likewise, also the cup after
supper saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood. which
is shed for you." He said, this will be the remembrance of what
I'm about to do for you. Verse 39 right here says, and
he came out and went as he was want or known to do to the Mount
of Olives and his disciples also followed him. And when he was
at the place, he said unto them, pray that you enter not into
temptation. And he was withdrawn from them
about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, Father,
if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not
my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto
him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed
more earnestly. And his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground." What was
happening right there? The work, the work of the Redeemer bearing
the sins of his people, the substitute, the sacrifice. God the Father
took all the sins off of his people and laid them on his son,
his sacrifice. And Christ, our Savior, owned
them. He bore them. He wore them. He stood in the humiliation of
them before the judgment throne of God. Pilate was not His judge.
God was. And with our sins on Him, Christ
accomplished the work of taking them from us and bearing our
judgment for them. The wages of sin is death. He
bore our suffering. He bore our death. He bore our
separation from God. The condemnation, the penalty.
He was wounded for our transgressions. This was the work. The father
said, son, I want you to be wounded for their transgressions. I want
you to be bruised. That spotless lamb. I want you
to be bruised for their iniquities. I want the chastisement of their
peace to be on you. And I want with your stripes,
them to be healed. That is the work that God the
Father gave him to do. Look at chapter 23, I'm almost
done. 23, verse 44. It was about the sixth hour,
and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth
hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was
rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with
a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave
up the ghost." What does that mean? That means it's finished. The work is done. God made Him
to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him. He removed our sin from us and
redeemed us back to God. The proof of that, did He do
it? Is it really finished? Yes. How do we know? God raised
Him from the dead. That's the proof. The work is finished. God is
satisfied. Truly it's finished. Now, let
me leave us with this, alright? What should our response be to
this? What should our response be?
This work that Christ accomplished for His people, in full, to the
satisfaction of God the Father, what's our response to it? In closing, go to Hebrews 4.
Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews 4 verse 9 says, "...there remaineth therefore
a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his
rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from
his." He said in verse 11, let us labor
therefore to enter into that rest. Lest any man fall after
the same example of unbelief. If it is finished, if the work
truly is finished, what should our response be? Rest. Rest. Well, we've got to do,
you better do. No, it's done. Rest, rest. He said, labor to enter into
that rest, lest we fall into unbelief. Some men came to the Lord one
time and they asked Him, what shall we do that we might work
the works of God? And He told them in John 6, 29,
He told them, He said, this is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom
He had sent. This is the work of God. Believe
on Christ. Believe what? That he finished
the work. Believe that he finished the
work, the work of saving his people, the work that he came
to do. Just believe him when he says
it's finished. What will the evidence be of
whether or not we believe? We'll rest. We will rest in the
glory and the wonder of the fact that Christ finished it all.
Is that not wonderful? Full of wonder? We are complete
in Him. Completely saved. Completely
holy. Done. Done. In Him. The author and the finisher
of the work. I don't know of gladder tidings
than that. I wrote the word gladder down
and googled it. It's a word. It's in the dictionary. I don't know of gladder tidings. Those angels came and said, we
have glad tidings. The one that all of the scripture
declared would come to do the work is on the earth. He's here. And he cried, it's done. And
he's coming back. Everybody he finished the work
for, he's coming back to get them. Every single one. That makes me want to, with the
angelic host, proclaim Christ was born in Bethlehem. Joyful
all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies. Can you
imagine the triumph of the skies? Can't wait to be a part of the
triumph of the skies. Hark the herald angels sing,
and so do all of God's people. Glory to the newborn King. To
Him be glory forever. Amen. All right, Brother Eddie,
you come.