It Is Finished

[soso]

It Is Finished

How the Darkness of the Cross Gave Us Access to God

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/it-is-finished/

What parent would choose one of his or her children /to die for people //who don’t like them?

Or which of us would die ourselves, not just for our mother or spouse or friend, but for an enemy?

God sent Jesus /to die for the ungodly—those not devoted to Him, those even against Him.

This was the darkest moment /in the history of planet Earth.

The spiritual darkness was seen and felt physically:

“At noon, darkness came over the whole land /until three in the afternoon” (Mark 15:33, NIV).

Jesus was put /on the cross /at nine, and then, after three hours of suffering, everything went dark.

Was it a windstorm?

Was it a supernatural act of God, with the light of the sun /blocked out?

It was a sign of the forces of darkness //that had contrived /to put Jesus on the cross

—the evil of the moment.

It also showed the absolute control /of God /over everything,

since He could have taken His Son /off the cross and spared [Him] [this suffering].

At three that afternoon, “Jesus cried out /in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’

(which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)” (Mark 15:34, NIV).

“Listen, he’s calling for Elijah,” people said. “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down” (Mark 15:35–36, NIV).

A tradition was believed that at crucial moments the Old Testament prophet Elijah would appear.

But Jesus wasn’t calling for Elijah.

He didn’t need Elijah.

He could have come down /from the cross /on His own.

But He kept /seeing you and me

—the salvation of people for thousands of years now, all over the world, every color, every tribe.

Countless numbers have had[ their sins] [washed away] /because of what Jesus end/ured on the cross.

“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last” (Mark 15:37, NIV).

He finished His life, (which was) misunderstood right to the very end.

John’s Gospel tells [us] that as He died, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30, NIV).

What was finished?

Salvation.

Full and free.

Not earned by us.

Only to be received as a gift.

“It is finished.”

Mission accomplished.

Substitutionary death accomplished.

Jesus punished for things //that we did,

and, as we put our faith in Him and are born again, giving [us] [His righteousness].

You know what?

I think () we got the best of that trade.

But notice this:

as Jesus breathed His last, the “curtain of the temple was torn /in two /from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38, NIV).

The temple veil—a huge, thick curtain—was rent /in two.

It was torn /not from bottom to top, but from top to bottom—to prove that no person had come in and torn it.

It was an act of God, just like the darkness at noontime had been.

What did it mean?

Before Jesus’ death, nobody could go /into the holy of holies, where the presence of God rested.

But [the curtain that kept people /from God’s presence] was rent /in two /to say to us,

“Now not just the high priest on the Day of Atonement can go in there.

[Every believer /in Jesus Christ] has access /to the holy of holies.”

Because of what took place /on the darkest day in history,

not only are we offered Jesus’ righteousness.

Now we can also pour out [our needs] /to God and seek /from Him [the necessary requirements for each day],

like mercy and grace.

All of us today have access to God.

The veil was torn /in two /to remind the Christian church forever,

“Come to me, all you //who are weary and burdened, and I will give [you] [rest]” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

How many people can go to Christ?

Everyone.

He’s waiting /for us /today.

Prayer

Oh God, help us to take advantage of the access () we have /to You.

Thank You for sacrificing Your only Son /so that we can live /forever /with You.

We love You, Lord.

Commune with us today. Amen.

If this encouraged you, you can receive [Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post] /by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “Communion with God”
• Enjoy other resources to help you draw closer to God: “Full Assurance” and “Fellowship with the Lord”
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page