Mission Accomplished

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

I often have a problem finishing what I start. It depresses me to see how much unfinished business I have been involved in. Contrast my depression to the joy of one of my granddaughters. She exclaims, “I did it!” to convey her joy after she has finished an assignment. It expresses the joy of a mission accomplished. When it comes to God, we can rest assured that He finishes what He starts. When Jesus said, “It is finished”, He was saying “Mission accomplished.” “I did it!”
Sometimes we become bogged down with so many unfinished projects we don’t know where to focus our time. And the thing that matters is left undone. God sent His son, God the Son, on the most important mission in human history. On the cross, Jesus declared that the mission was accomplished. To accomplish the mission, one must know several things.

I. THE MISSION IS CLEAR. A clear understanding of the nature of the mission is crucial. We must know the objective. We must know when it is over. Jesus knew He was the perfect sacrifice that was offered for sin. Jesus knew when the price for our ransom had been paid. He knew when it was finished. Do we understand this today? Or are we still trying to add to the price of our salvation?
II. THE MISSION IS COSTLY. The cost of the mission must be counted. Did Jesus ever wonder if the goal of the mission, the release of the captives, was worthy of the price to be paid? Do we often consider our great worth to God?
III. THE MISSION HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR. From the foundation of the world, God determined that in the proper time and place a Savior would come. Timing is everything in a hostage rescue mission. The time for our redemption has come and is coming. In God’s preparation it was determined that there was no easier way. But often we still look for another way to save ourselves; perhaps it is because we cannot submit and surrender our lives to the One who paid the price.
IV. THE MISSION HAS BEEN PAID FOR. The cost has been borne by the Mission Planner. We do not have the resources to pay the ransom. Only God had the resources to accomplish the mission. And He fully funded the mission with the precious blood of Jesus.
IV. THE MISSION MUST BE COMPLETED. The One on mission must have been willing to endure the hardship and suffer for the outcome. The One on mission must be willing to pay the ultimate price. The question becomes, if we are on mission with Christ, are we willing to trade our lives for His?
V. THE MISSION MATTERS MOST TO THE MASTER. The mission mattered to God. And it still does. Does the mission matter to me? Has my life been changed to know that I matter to God? Has Jesus finished His work in you? Are there areas of your life that He is waiting for you to release to Him? Do you want to know the joy that Jesus knows when a mission is accomplished? The joy surpasses the cross. Hebrews 12:2 says “... looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We can now tell the story of our rescue. We have been bought and paid for. Mission accomplished.