It is early in the morning on Good Friday. I’m sitting in 35 degrees of heat, looking at the gentle rolling ocean here in Mahajanga. It is a beautiful day. Honestly, in such a beautiful setting, it is difficult to contemplate the events of the past night and those this day….the passion of Christ, and his cruel death… these images stand in striking contrast to my reality today…perhaps this is true for all of us??
As I reflect on his last words, I am taken by “It is finished!”
These are the iconic words of Christ, uttered not as a defeat from Calvary’s tree, but as a declaration of accomplishment. He, the Lord of Heaven and earth, set out from heaven to redeem the world from sin, the flesh, and the devil…and he did so!!
That redeeming part of Christs work was complete, but he would continue after the resurrection to minister to his followers. He would continue to prepare them for his departure. But even now, he continues to gather his elect from every language and nation, even now he continues to intercede for us!!
His work is complete, but not fully, not until he returns and restores all things!!
I can’t help but think that we, or more personally, I must now take up the same mantel and serve as he serves….and only as I do so, that is to say, only as I do all that I do ‘to the glory of the father’ will I actually accomplish anything that will have lasting effect.