Dear friends in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prepare our hearts, Lord, to receive your Word. Silence in us any voice but your own that in hearing we believe and in believing we obey your will revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
It is finished… These three little words can carry a boatload of meaning, depending on who is saying them, and how, and why…
The most famous sad example of their use comes from the end of the crucifixion story in the Gospel of John. After receiving a sip of sour wine from a sponge on the end of a spear, we’re told that Jesus says, “It is finished” just before he bows his head and gives up his spirit (John 19:30).
On other sad occasions, I’ve heard these words spoken in hospitals or at homes, at cemeteries or in churches, when a loved one’s life or relationship completes its journey through that valley of the shadow of death.
And isn’t it interesting to note how these words are also “spoken” by our secular society—even though we’ve not yet reached the middle of the Twelve Days of Christmas:
• Outside of Church we no longer hear bell ringers or carol singers;
• stores are advertising after-Christmas sales;
• radio stations have completely stopped playing Christmas music;
• and television programs have all said, It is finished about the Yuletide holiday, the reason for the season, and have returned to showing their regularly scheduled fluff’n’stuff.
• Even the newspaper’s comics are involved. In today’s strip entitled “Luann” (by Greg Evans), the teenager laments:
Back in August I was in the shopping mall one day
And right inside the door there was a Santa Claus display!
Christmastime begins a little earlier each year.
It barely goes away before it starts to reappear.
But now it’s AFTER Christmas and I’m feeling melancholy.
I realize the months ahead aren’t anywhere as jolly.
I’m sad that it’s all over and so I have to ponder:
Does Christmas start up way too soon…
Or should it last much longer?
But we also know of happier circumstances when this simple sentence is spoken. Let’s share the times when it feels good to say "it is finished."
| • completed Christmas list | • final day of class |
| • surgery is successful | • report/project presented |
| • contract is signed | • homework handed in |
| • final chemo treatment is done | • child’s tantrum comes to an end |
| • house bought/sold | • journey ended |
| • loan is paid off | • tour of duty is over |
| • an adoption process or pregnancy produces a new family member to love | |
On all of these occasions (and more!) we’re able to
clap our hands,
put a smile on our faces,
and say with a great sense of relief or joy,
It is finished!
Our Gospel lesson also features this theme in the endearing stories of two people who had
• dedicated their lives to serving God’s people,
• dedicated their hearts to praying for God’s will,
• dedicated their spirits to search for a sign of God’s grace for all the world.
In the hustle and bustle of a busy day at the Temple, somehow Simeon senses something special about a certain family’s new-born son. I can’t imagine the looks on the faces of Mary and Joseph when this elderly man takes their child and says with great joy, It is finished!
Simeon’s song of praise is printed in your bulletins: Luke 2:29-32. I like the way it sounds in the old King James language—if you know that version, say it with me—if not, you can read along in your bulletins. But picture in your mind’s eye this man who has waited his whole life long to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless the world. He cries out,
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 peoples;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And standing close to the family is the elderly woman, Anna, who’s eyes are also opened to the unfolding of this miracle. When Simeon is finished speaking, says Luke, Anna begins to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (2:38).
After decades of waiting, these two are finally able to experience their hearts’ desire, their spirits’ aspiration, their hope for help for a hurting world…
And yet…though each of them in their own way exclaims that short sentence, “It is finished,” that’s not how the story ends. Their waiting may be finished—but not their words, and certainly not their mission.
Upon meeting the Christ child, both Simeon and Anna are filled with hope—and immediately start telling people about this good news of God’s grace! And even more importantly, their words have since continued to proclaim God’s good news throughout every generation.
So it was with them,
and so it has been with us,
and so it will be with all people who meet the babe born in Bethlehem.
Such an experience is never meant to be an ending, but only the beginning of an awfully big adventure—the joyful journey of bringing hope to a world that is dying to hear a word of Good News.
So in a very real way, we can only say It is finished—
to the opening act of this play called life,
to the introduction of the Greatest Story Ever Told,
to the first movement in this symphony of God’s love song to our creation—and to everyone and to everything in it.
It is finished…? No, it is just beginning! Amen.
Pastor Scott Fuller