A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:29-30, NLT)
When Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" while on the cross, he was putting all of humanity on an even playing field.
It was finished for the women who stood there weeping at the cross, and it was finished for the soldier who pierced Jesus' dead body.
Then God tore the temple curtain in half.
That's a bit overdramatic, don't you think, God? Why such a flourishing gesture?
I think God wanted it to be clear that there were no more barriers to him. A torn curtain can't keep anyone out. It is finished.
A torn curtain can't stop the overlooked widow from jumping into God's arms. It can't keep out the blind man or the paralyzed woman. And it can't even keep out the religious leaders who try to keep other people out. Because it is finished!
What do Donald Trump and Joe Biden have in common? It is finished for both of them.
The Don may not be welcomed at the Democratic convention. And Ol' Joe can't get access into the GOP gathering. A sturdy curtain has been put up keeping them both out.
But they are both welcomed by God through Jesus' finished work on the cross one terrifying Friday afternoon. They can stop trying so hard to earn approval.
It is finished for us too. Jesus did the work we couldn't do. The curtain tore so that no one would have to be left out.
On this Good Friday, we're welcome to join the widow and the blind man and jump into the arms of God.
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