As Christians celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus this Easter season, let’s look at the testimonies of the four witnesses that reported on the event.  The preponderance of evidence of the witnesses, should tell you exactly what happened. 

Matthew 27:45-50 – Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.  And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark 15:33-39 – And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.  And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.  And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Luke 23:32,36-47 – And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  And 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.  Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

John 19:28-30 – After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Four witnesses with similar, but different testimonies. Let’s compare:

Four witnesses testified that vinegar was offered to Jesus to drink. 

Three witnesses testified that a sponge was soaked in vinegar and offered to Jesus.

Three witnesses testified that the veil of the temple was rent or split from top to bottom.

Two witnesses stated that Jesus cried in a loud voice – My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Two witnesses testified that the centurion stated that truly this man was the Son of God.

One witness testified that the inscription on the cross was, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One witness testified that Jesus told the malefactor that defended him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

One witness testified that when Jesus stated, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost,” right before he passed.   

One witness testified that the graves were opened and bodies of saints rose and went into the city, after Jesus’s resurrection.

One witness testified that Jesus’s last word on the cross, in Greek, was “Tetelastai.”   Translated from Greek to English, it means “It is finished.”

It is clear from the testimonies of two or three witnesses and the preponderance of evidence that you know for sure that Jesus was offered vinegar to drink on the cross, the temple veil was rent in two, Jesus yelled out that God had abandoned him and the centurion testified that Jesus was the Son of God.   

Jesus’s death on the cross confirmed that God had sent Jesus as a blood sacrifice for sin and repentance for Israel.  God was tired of the Jews living in sin and the continuum blood and animal sacrifices performed with no change of heart.  Burnt offerings made for the remembrance of and pleasure of sin every year.  Blood and sacrifice made for the forgiveness of sins.  Paul made it clear to the Hebrews that the blood and goats and bulls cannot take away sin. 

Hebrews 10:3-6,8,11 – But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; which are offered by the law;  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 

Jesus was required to be the final sacrifice for sin, so the Jews could live God’s gospel of love.  Turning from sin, loving God and loving their neighbor. 

Matthew 26:28 – For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mark 14:24-25 – And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Luke 22:20 – Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Acts 5:31 – Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38-39 – Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 26:18 – To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Colossians 1:14 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Ephesians 1:7 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Hebrews 10:12 – But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Romans 3:25 – Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

This was not going to be a small task for Jesus.  The first sacrifice of a ram was performed by Abraham.  Between Abraham and Jesus were 42 generations.  42 generations of animal burnt offerings and blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin engrained into their religious acts, all performed to give glory to God.  Anything less would be considered a heresy. 

Genesis 22:13 – And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Exodus 10:24-25 – And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.

Leviticus 1:3-4 – If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Numbers 29:5 – And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

Ezekiel 45:23 – And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.

Turning from sin by repentance was not performed in Old Testament.  The wickedness of man was great on the earth and God had repented the creation of man.   

Genesis 6:5-6 – And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

God repented of the evil for the people of Nineveh and when they followed Jonah, God repented. 

Jonah 3:9-10 – Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Matthew 12:41 – The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

God will judge his people.  If the nation turns from sin, then God will repent of the evil that he would do unto them.

Jeremiah 18:5,8 – Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Psalm 135:14 – For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

The act of water baptism was introduced by John the Baptist as an act meant for repentance and turning from sin.  Jesus preached repentance.

Matthew 3:2 – And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:4 – John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.                                                                                                               

Matthew 4:17 -From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 9:13 – But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 6:12 – And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luke 5:32 – I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 13:3,5 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 15:10 – Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Acts 8:22 – Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

2 Peter 3:9 -The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Revelation 16:11 – And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

With Jesus being rebuked by the Jews, God made the gift of life available to the Gentiles.

Acts 11:18 – When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 26:20 – But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Decision: From the preponderance of evidence testimonies out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, God was clear in his gospel the direction of righteousness required for the Jews and the Gentiles. 

1)       God no longer desired animal and blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.

2)      Jesus’s death on the cross was the final blood sacrifice for sin.

3)      God requires man to live a life unto righteousness by repenting and turning from sin.

4)      A righteous life by giving glory of God, loving God and loving your neighbor.  No longer walking in darkness with the devil. 

5)      God’s gift of everlasting life is made available to the Gentiles. 

In this Christian holiday season of celebrating Easter, it is clear that the word that Jesus spoke,”Tetelestai”, meant exactly the translation quoted in the bible, “It is finished,” and nothing more.  The physical church used for the sacrifice of animals and blood for blood is finished as indicated by the temple veil being rent.   The animal sacrifice for past sins is finished.   Your sinful life is finished as your turn from darkness and sin, being born again as a child of God.  Your old life is finished as God wants your heart leading you by the Holy Ghost, living a life giving him the glory.  When you decide to live God’s gospel of love, your war with Satan has just begun.  He wants you back, living a life of sin. Stand firm and use the power of God to maintain your walk in the light. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.