Later, Jesus knew that everything had been done. To make the Scriptures happen he said, "I am thirsty." There was a jar full of vinegar there. So the soldiers soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant. Then they lifted it to Jesus' mouth. Jesus tasted the vinegar. Then he said, "It is finished." Jesus bowed his head and died.
— John 19:28-30 NLT
Key Thought
Jesus lived just a little over three decades. When he died, he declared his work, "Finished." I'm not sure that I can even say that about the work of one day at the end, much less my life. I have a cartoon someone gave me that reads, "I believe that God gives us all a certain amount of work we are to get done in our lifetime. At the rate I'm going, I figure I'm going to live another 110 years!" Jesus' secret to completing his life's work was really pretty simple: he sought to please God with what he did rather than trying to make everyone else happy. Jesus accomplished what God sent him to do. How about us—you and me? With all we are trying to do, are we really focused on the main thing or are we being diminished in trying to do many things? Let's live so that when our end is near, we can say, "It is finished!"
Today's Prayer
Holy God and loving Father, help me to better know your will for me today so that I can accomplish the most important things and not just be involved running around trying to do many things. Please reveal to me more clearly the work you have for me to do; and then, dear Father, please give the courage and power through your Holy Spirit to do it. I want my work to be finished when my time has come to leave this earth and go home to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- John 4:34
- John 9:1-5
- John 13:1-5
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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