A much loved sister in the Lord went to be with Jesus yesterday. Though she may have known things hadn’t been “quite right” for some time, her family thought all things were well when they took her to dinner last Thursday to celebrate her birthday. But then came Friday . . .

The heart attack, it seems, was more a symptom than the cause of what beset her body. As the weekend progressed and the race to determine root cause continued, more of her vital organs showed signs of failure. In the wee hours of Monday morning she was sent to another hospital for life-saving treatment. Shortly after noon on Monday, she was promoted into glory.

Her family says that throughout, she assured them she knew where she was going and was ready to see her Savior. Though too short a good-bye, by God’s goodness they were all able to say their good-byes before this dear sister went absent from the body and present with the Lord (2Cor. 5:8). I missed the send-off by a couple of hours but was able to gather with the family as they completed their bedside vigil. It was finished.

It was finished, but there was a prevailing calm. A life well-lived was over, but still there was a sense of comfort. A season had past, and yet there was an abiding confidence for the future. This beloved sister was now in the place prepared for her and, as her Savior had promised, He had taken her to be with Himself, “that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Calm, comfort, confidence . . . all a reality amid calamity because of a Savior who Himself experienced death, crying out long ago, “It is finished!”

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

(John 19:28-30 ESV)

It is finished . . . Those are the words in this morning’s readings that cause me to pause and reflect, to wonder and worship.

It is finished . . .

He who knew no sin had been made sin for us, “that we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor. 5:21), fully qualified to be received into the presence of God.

He who was the Son of God, forever loved of the Father, had come to “be made like His brothers in every respect”, so that He could mediate with full knowledge on our behalf, even as we could know full atonement for our sin (Heb. 2:17) and fully trust His beckoning, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

He who rose from the grave on the third day, vanquishing death, swallowing it up in the victory of resurrection, removing its sting, so that we too could know victory over death “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 15:54-57). A victory known to a next level, in an unimaginable way, by a beloved saint, just a little after after noon yesterday. Her earthly pilgrimage over. Yet, her life just begun because of the finished work of Christ on the cross.

It is finished . . . and the best is yet to come.

By His grace. For His glory.