John 19:30

30 After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

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John 19:30 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:30

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar
Of the Roman soldiers, who offered it to him, either by way of reproach, or to quench his thirst; and he drank of it, as is very likely:

he said, it is finished;
that is, the whole will of God; as that he should be incarnate, be exposed to shame and reproach, and suffer much, and die; the whole work his Father gave him to do, which was to preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal salvation for his people, all which were now done, or as good as done; the whole righteousness of the law was fulfilled, an holy nature assumed, perfect obedience yielded to it, and the penalty of death endured; hence a perfect righteousness was finished agreeably to the law, which was magnified and made honourable by it, and redemption from its curse and condemnation secured; sin was made an end of, full atonement and satisfaction for it were given; complete pardon procured, peace made, and redemption from all iniquity obtained; all enemies were conquered; all types, promises, and prophecies were fulfilled, and his own course of life ended: the reason of his saying so was, because all this was near being done, just upon finishing, and was as good as done; and was sure and certain, and so complete, that nothing need, or could be added to it; and it was done entirely without the help of man, and cannot be undone; all which since has more clearly appeared by Christ's resurrection from the dead, his entrance into heaven, his session at God's right hand, the declaration of the Gospel, and the application of salvation to particular persons:

and he bowed his head;
as one dying, and freely submitting to his Father's will, and the stroke of death:

and gave up the ghost;
his spirit or soul into the hands of his Father; freely laying down that precious life of his which no man could take away from him.

John 19:30 In-Context

28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, "I'm thirsty."
29 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth.
30 After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.
31 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn't stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down.
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other.

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Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.