Shortly before his passing, John Formosa recorded a sermon to be used for the Canadian Field on-line Sabbath School Program. He mentioned that it was to be used in the event that one week there was no sermon available. It was in reserve. The sermon was spoken in the Toronto church in February. After John’s passing (March 10, 2021), the sermon was broadcast as the divine service on March 20, 2021. It can be viewed on the 4truth.ca Youtube channel. (The sermon begins at the 1 hour 55 minute mark).
The following is a shortened summary of the sermon. If you wish to have a printed copy of the entire sermon, please contact the publishers.
Three small word—barely a sentence. Three words—yet three powerful words, words of finality, words of closure. Closure is an important concept for human beings. We like to have an ending to things. We like to be sure of things. We like to be comfortable. If someone we love dies, we like to have said good by. How awful a husband feels if he had exchanged some harsh words with his wife in the morning when they parted, only to have something unexpected happen to her during the day, like a car accident. If she died in the car crash, harsh words would have been the last thing that he shared with his wife. How empty that feeling would be, to never have the opportunity in this life to apologize to her, and vice verse for a wife to her husband. Yet scenarios like this play out in our lives every day. It may not be as severe as a death, but there are many things we leave undone in our lives. Things without any closure.
“It is finished.”
While reading this article, I would like you to think about your life—of how you live your life. I would like you to concentrate on you. Put out of your mind other people, other places, other things, other cares of this life. Concentrate and do not be distracted by other thoughts.
In 2005 a category-five hurricane named Katrina smashed the New Orleans coast devastating the city of about ¾ million people. Bridges were down, the entire place was flooded up to the top of homes. Thousands of people were stranded on the roofs of their own homes, and thousands of buildings were lying in ruins. Estimates run that over 50 billion dollars in damage happened within a short period of time. Almost a million people were displaced and this, in the matter of a few hours time. In a moment, things came to an end. In a moment people’s lives changed completely forever. Plans for the future, investments, savings, jobs, even the basic necessities of life like food, shelter, and water were gone. And everything changed. Their lives seemed finished.
But the worst was still to come. The next couple of weeks witnessed thousands of dead bodies floating in the streets. Thousands of dead trapped inside their homes as the entire city shrank into a worse and worse nightmare. Basic law and order deteriorated, and the whole area seemed on the verge of anarchy. The entire place became disease infested, resembling more of an open sewer than a major city in the richest country on earth.
We can learn many things from the events that unfolded in New Orleans.
Warnings: Why were so many people still there in the city when they were warned of how powerful the approaching hurricane was? Why did government officials not heed the warning from experts and engineers that the levees that were built to protect New Orleans from the ocean were inadequate and that they would not stand up to a major hurricane? The plain fact is that most humans do not heed warnings, especially after we have heard them over and over again and have somehow managed to avoid disaster. New Orleans had withstood hurricanes before and had survived just fine. But this time something was different. None of the previous hurricanes that had hit New Orleans were as powerful as Katrina.
How often has God warned humanity through the ages of the coming events in the future? God does not hide things from His people. He puts them out there, in plain view. God does not want His people to perish. He wants His people to live. It is sad that most people choose not to listen. After reading God’s word about the Holy Spirit’s constant pleadings towards them, they still choose to ignore the words time after time, until they cannot discern the voice any longer.
The voice of the Holy Spirit is still there, but they have stopped listening. “While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. ” Hebrews 3:15
“Today!” God uses the word “Today” in this verse because tomorrow may never come. Today is given to us, not necessarily tomorrow. I now ask, why did He make mention of the immediacy of today and reference it back to the provocation?
After years and years as slaves in captivity in Egypt, the Israelites left Egypt with great fanfare and hope. They followed Moses into the wilderness. After all the experiences they made in the 40 years in the wilderness—of God’s wonderous leading and protection, they came a second time to the the precipice of the Promised Land. And what did they do? The Israelites provoked Moses to anger by not having faith again in God. Moses got angry and hit the rock rather than speaking to it, and thus he could not enter the Promised Land. This is the event that God references here.
“Today If you hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the day of that provocation.” They provoked Moses and God by not having faith in spite of all that He had done for them. This is a lesson for us that we do not provoke God who has done so much for us. Again I say, God uses the word “today” because tomorrow may never come.
Anarchy: Those days after Katrina, with the food, the shelter, and the fresh water being all of a sudden scarce, the city quickly sank into depravity. It bordered on Anarchy. People looting stores, not for food, but for material goods, like televisions, Play stations, computers, and phones. Where were they going to plug them in? There was no longer any electricity or cellular service. What were they going to do with these goods? People were protecting homes at gun point, refusing to be evacuated. What was there to protect any more? What about the disease that surrounded them? They esteemed property over their own personal health. Their behaviour was not even logical. Proverbs 1:19 reads, “So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” People’s greed will destroy their own lives. Fear, hopelessness and anxiety. Many did manage to get out of the city and were housed in temporary shelters scattered across the USA, but they were ripped with fear and anxiety about the future. Fear controlled their lives as they were uncertain about what tomorrow would bring. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:26
The Blame Game: Soon people started looking for someone to blame. Someone had to be held accountable for this mess. It was the different levels of government that did not respond fast enough to this disaster. The citizens blamed each other and the government. Each level of government blamed each other. Many people do not like to take responsibility for themselves, for their own actions. They always feel a need to blame someone.
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10. When Satan was Lucifer in heaven, he was the first accuser. He accused God who created him. There was peace in the universe before Lucifer stood up and said, “I have a better plan.” “I have a better way.” Through this better way, Satan starts his evil by making men blame each other. He is the accuser of the brethren. Accusation comes from the spirit of Satan.
Some were even blaming God. It is His fault as it was a natural disaster. Why does God allow such things to happen anyway? It is Satan’s sophistry to use the term, “natural disaster.” There is nothing natural about it. God’s natural way is one of peace. God did not create the earth to harm people but to be subject to man. Man was originally given dominion over the planet earth. It was created as his home. It was created beautiful. (See Genesis 1:27–31). God’s original creation was perfect; in complete harmony.
These “natural disasters” are the result of thousands of years of sin which has left an indelible mark upon this earth. Through the influence of Satan, man has abused his environment to the point of no return. Experts warn of the effects of overconsumption and pollution, yet their words are ignored. God gave a warning about this approximately 2000 years ago. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22
Compassion and Love: During Katrina, amidst all the misery and carnage, we also witnessed many acts of love and courage as different people risked their own lives to help others. There were people sacrificing their home, their money and their time. Some who had lost almost everything themselves were sharing what little they did have with others. So here we have two camps, one driven by greed, avarice, accusation, anxiety and fear, and another driven by compassion, love, duty and respect.
I want you to pause here and think to yourself for a moment. What camp would you be in if this had happened, not in New Orleans, but in the city that you live in? Whom do you resemble more? Each of us will have the opportunity to discover this in our life at some point in time.
Today, we need to ask ourselves who we are more like. Today is what have right now. Tomorrow may not be ours. To some of those people, when Katrina hit, that was their last day. No more time. It is finished.
“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:29–30
2000 years ago, a Man hung on the cross hewn out of wood. He was God, a Priest, and a King. It was a cross that was meant for a murderer and a thief, a criminal and a sinner. It was Barabbas’s cross (Mark 15:6-13)
On that day, the crowd was chanting to Pilate, we do not want Jesus, we want Barabbas. Give us Barabbas. Would we have chanted the same thing if we were in the midst of the crowd that day? Give us the murderer and thief, the one who causes insurrection? Let us not so easily dismiss this thought from our mind. Each time we commit the smallest sin, we are crucifying Jesus afresh. We are asking for Barabbas, whose spirit was moving among the people that day.
Whose cross was Jesus hanging on that day? “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:21-24
After reading this verse, I ask, who of you readers is not guilty of being Barabbas? Who is not guilty of killing someone? Who is not a sinner? Who is not in the prison house of sin? Who does not want to be released from that prison? Yes, my friends, it was me who was released from prison that day. It was my cross that Jesus dragged through the streets that day. It was my cross that Jesus hung on that day. Just accept the truth and replace your names with Barabbas. Give us Brother John Formosa, give us John and crucify Jesus. Yes, it was from my cross that Jesus looked down in anguish and cried, “It is finished.” That is the truth of it, but what did it all mean?
The recording of Jesus crying out, “It is finished,” is only found in the gospel of John. The apostle John was at the foot of the cross and heard it personally. Thousands of people saw Jesus die on the cross of Calvary that day but only one disciple was at the foot of the cross.
Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” He did not whisper it. Even after the thirst and the long torturous events of the day He still cried out, “It is finished.” What happened when He cried out, “It is finished”?
“When the loud cry, ‘It is finished,’ came from the lips of Christ, the priests were officiating in the Temple. The lamb prefiguring Christ–for to Him all the sacrificial offerings pointed–had been brought to be slain. Clothed in his significant and beautiful dress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his son. With intense interest the people look on. But the earth trembles and quakes, for the Lord Himself draws near. With a rending noise, the veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom by an unseen hand, throwing open to the gaze of the multitude a
place once filled with the presence of God. In this place the Shekinah once dwelt. Here God had once manifested His glory above the mercy seat . . . The way into the Holiest of all is laid open. A new and living way, which has no veil between, is offered to all.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, page 416
The battle that had gone on from the moment that Lucifer stood up and accused God’s law, that His law was unjust, was now over. Now all the created beings in the universe understood the difference between God’s law and Satan’s plan. The argument was now over. No longer could Satan lay the charge on God that His law was unjust. No longer, would his deceptive charges be believed. The same hand that had written the judgement of God on Belshazzar’s palace wall, spelling the doom of the Babylonian empire now, tears the temple veil in two. That same hand.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
You are the temple of the living God. No longer is it made of stone, but it is a living soul. But there is a veil that exists between God and man and unless you allow Christ to tear the veil in two, you will never have a direct relationship and connection with God. The Holy and the Most Holy must be united. Christ will not stay in the outer court and He will not stay in the Holy. He wants to enter the Most Holy of your temple. Christ must possess your heart, your body, your mind, and your so. Your entire being must be sanctified by His spirit. Jesus became obedient to His own law. He took my place on that cross. He took your place on that cross. That is the reality. But unless we are willing to personally accept His sacrifice, it will not do us any good.
“For three hours Christ hung upon the cross, looked upon by thousands. Thousands heard and saw the reviling of the priests and rulers; they heard the challenge, ‘Come down from the cross, and we will believe in Thee,’ and the taunt, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save.’ . . .
“All who had looked upon Christ during His trial were convicted of His loyalty and royal character. That face, once beheld by humanity, was never forgotten. As Cain’s face expressed his guilt as a murderer, so the face of Christ revealed His innocence, serenity, benevolence–the image of God. But His accusers would not heed the mark, the signet of heaven, and that countenance was hidden by the mantle of God.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, page 385–386
There were two characters on trial there in Jerusalem that day. The character of God and the character of Satan. One driven by greed, avarice, accusation, persecution, anxiety and fear, and another driven by compassion, love, sacrifice, duty and respect. The true character of Satan could no longer be hidden. The true character of God’s love and justice was just beginning to be understood.
After 4000 years, all created beingslooked on and saw this trial. God’s character was beginning to be understood.
“Satan led men into sin, and the plan of redemption was put in operation. For four thousand years, Christ was working for man’s uplifting, and Satan for his ruin and degradation. And the heavenly universe beheld it all.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 759
Before He was crucified, “The soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.” Mark 15:16. The Praetorium was the place that these battle-hardened soldiers would take their prisoners to conduct their torturous treatment and most prisoners never made it out of there alive.
“It is finished.” Those three words were the culmination of Jesus’ life here on this earth. It was the culmination of this argument that Satan had brought up; this accusation that God’s law was not just. It was the closure to the torture and sacrifice and it culminated in Jesus crucifixion.
“Some have limited views of the atonement. They think that Christ suffered only a small portion of the penalty of the law of God; they suppose that, while the wrath of God was felt by His dear Son, He had, through all His painful sufferings, the evidence of His Father’s love and acceptance; that the portals of the tomb before Him were illuminated with bright hope, and that He had the abiding evidence of His future glory. Here is a great mistake. Christ’s keenest anguish was a sense of His Father’s displeasure. His mental agony because of this was of such intensity that man can have but faint conception of it.” – Testimony for the Church, vol. 2, page 213–214
Jesus was oppressed by the powers of darkness. He was struggling with the power of Satan who declared to Him that he had Him in his power; that His father in heaven had forsaken Him. It is hard for any of us to comprehend the full mental anguish that Jesus was going through at this time. What we do know is the character of the one who was doing the accusing. Yet through this physical, mental and emotional abuse, and the weight the sins of the whole world upon Him, Jesus prevailed.
Three simple words signaled the victory. “It is finished.” The Greek word for the word “finished” used here is Teleo. Teleo means, to bring to a close, to finish, to end; to perform, to execute, to complete, fulfill, to carry out a command, and to pay for something. “It is finished,” or, “it is paid.”
Christ satisfied God’s justice by dying for all to pay for the sins of the elect. These sins can never be punished again as that would violate God’s justice. Sins can only be punished once either by a substitute or by yourself. Christ substituted Himself for you and I. But it is up to us to claim that forgiveness. It is up to me to claim that substitution.
The word Teleo is used also 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Paul knew that he no longer had much time left. He knew that he would be martyred soon. He now looked back on his life. “Teleo”.
Paul was happy at what he saw. He had kept the faith. He had closure. The thought of the sacrifice before him did not bother him. He knew that the same Person who hung on the cross for him would still be with him through the final closing events of his life because he already had the experience of Jesus being with him up to this point in time. He had already spent much time with Jesus through good times, through trials and through persecutions; from persecuting Christ’s people to, his conversion, and the many of his life events thereafter.
I have finished my course, Paul said. Can we say this? How would it be if today were your last day? What do you see when you look back at your life today? Is it complete? Is there something left undone? Here we come to the crux of the matter. The essential or salient point of it all. We have a choice to make. When the hurricane of life comes upon us, be it real or metaphorical, whom will we resemble? The true nature of the people in New Orleans came out when that hurricane hit. When all the support systems, all the things they took for granted were removed, their true character was seen. When we can no longer rely on people and places that we put our trust in, who will we resemble?
“It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them.” –Conflict and Courage, p. 46
God has a plan for each one of us individually. He has a grand purpose for you to fulfill with all your talents that you were born with, and the many more that He will give you. If you have not been faithful, He has given you today to correct these deficiencies and errors.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:1-5
We cannot justify ourselves. Only Jesus can justify us. If you have accepted justification by faith, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There will be no anxiety, no fear, no shame and we will glory in tribulations also, just as Paul did. Just as he looked back, and he realized that he had done so through God, through Jesus, who was his helper.
We have a choice to make. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2. It is time now to make a real decision for Jesus Christ.
“It is finished,” It is my with and prayer that each one of you would choose Jesus and accept His Sacrifice, today. Amen
John Formosa