Tetelestai: It is Finished
by: Amanda Gorecki
June 25, 2025
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
When Jesus cried "Tetelestai" from the cross, the world was forever transformed. This single Greek word—stamped on paid receipts and announced in court when sentences were completed—was His declaration that our sin debt was finally settled. Jesus’ shout from the cross offers the promise of forgiveness, suggesting that every wrong we have ever committed is nailed to that wood and cancelled. Yet, have you ever felt the weight of a mistake so burdensome that it seemed impossible to let go? Even with reassurance, it can be hard to completely trust in redemption, leaving us caught between doubt and hope.
In Luke 7:36–50, we encounter a woman marked by society as “a sinner.” She stepped into Simon's house, clutching an alabaster jar of costly perfume—her most cherished possession. At Jesus’ feet, she wept, her tears cascading like a river of emotions; she wiped them away with her hair, kissed His feet, and emptied the precious ointment. She was acutely aware of her great sin, yet her faith in Jesus was even greater. She already believed in His power to forgive and renew her life. She remained unfazed by the Pharisees' judgment; her sole desire was to worship at Jesus' feet. In a moment that challenged the Pharisees’ rigid beliefs, Jesus declared, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).
My husband and I faced a very difficult period that tested our faith and the strength of our marriage. With Jahan Berns and Jan Miller’s help, we experienced deliverance, and over several months, I watched John break free from his painful past. Jahan suggested a simple home water baptism—“Why not do it at home?” she proposed. The idea felt intimate and personal, but what happened during the baptism stayed with me forever.
The scene was set. Our bathtub was ready, lined with towels, and we started with a prayer. Everything felt perfect. But when we turned on the faucet, nothing happened. No water. Not a drop. We sat in silence, thinking, "well, this is a bust!" Then John realized—the contractor must have turned off the water during his last visit.
I thought the moment might slip away, but John did not hesitate. Determined, he got up, grabbed pots and pans, and began filling them with water from the kitchen sink. Back and forth he went, pouring water into the tub until it was full. His resolve was so simple, yet so hungry for God, and I couldn’t help but think of the sinful woman in the Bible, so desperate to be at Jesus’ feet. John’s determination was just as raw, just as beautiful.
In that simple, makeshift ceremony, John poured out his heart to Jesus in an act of pure worship—overflowing with gratitude, like the woman with the alabaster jar.
Reflecting on our journey, I recognized a lingering doubt about God’s mercy and my incomplete grasp of the powerful word “Tetelestai.” As I read Luke 7, a startling realization hit me—I was behaving like Simon the Pharisee, fixated on the notion of “sin” rather than placing my trust in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. The word "Tetelestai" struck my heart once more, its powerful truth resounding within me: Jesus paid it all, and the same grace that redeemed him also extends to me.
God’s love for us doesn’t depend on our own goodness. It isn’t a VIP club for the righteous with everyone else left out. His mercy isn’t reserved only for those who follow every rule; it reaches the broken and anyone who comes to Him in humble repentance.
To illustrate this, Jesus told Simon the Pharisee about two people who owed debts—one enormous, the other small. When both debts were canceled, the one set free from the larger obligation felt deeper gratitude and love. In the same way, our affection for God grows in proportion to how fully we understand the vast forgiveness He’s poured out for us.
When we truly grasp both God’s infinite holiness and our own sinfulness, the meaning of the cross bursts into fresh life. We follow Paul’s example: at first calling himself “least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9) and later “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul learned to see his unworthiness ever more clearly—and to respond with humility and awe at the price Jesus paid.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He was not saying that as a threat, but as a promise: genuine love for Him naturally produces obedience. When our hearts are captured by His love, every piece of our life falls into its right place.
Consider the sinful woman who broke open an alabaster jar of perfume and ignored the whispers around her, pouring out worship in sheer gratitude. Her actions didn’t earn salvation—her faith did. That same unmerited grace is ours today.
True worship is simply love in action—lavish, unreserved, and born out of overwhelming gratitude for what Christ has done on the cross.
Reflection Questions
What does "Tetelestai" mean to you personally? How does it shape your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice?
Are there areas in your life where you are trying to "earn" God's favor instead of resting in the grace already given through Jesus' finished work?
How can you show gratitude for the forgiveness you have received, like the woman who anointed Jesus with her perfume?
Do you sometimes, like the Pharisees, judge yourself or others based on performance or rules? How can you shift to a perspective of grace?
Worship: It Is Finished
Prayer
Father, thank You that Jesus’ work on the cross declared my debt paid in full. Help me to rest in “Tetelestai” every day, not striving in my own strength but resting in Your grace. Fill my heart with gratitude so deep my life overflows in worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Further Study
Colossians 2:13-14 – Our debts cancelled through the cross, Romans 5:8-10 – God’s love shown in Christ’s sacrifice, 1 Timothy 1:15-17 – Paul the "chief of sinners",” Ephesians 2:8 – Saved by grace through faith, Romans 2:4 – God’s kindness leads us to repentance.
Experience Tetelestai—with Triumph of Hope
Let go of burdens you were never meant to carry and embrace the freedom Christ has already purchased for you. Proclaim with confidence: Tetelestai—It is finished! Believe it, rest in it, and joyfully live it. If you need someone to join you in prayer for repentance or to fully understand what "It is Finished" means in your life, we are here for you at Triumph for Hope. Reach out to us at info@triumphofhope.net—we would love to pray with you and support you as you walk in the new life Christ offers.
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When Jesus cried "Tetelestai" from the cross, the world was forever transformed. This single Greek word—stamped on paid receipts and announced in court when sentences were completed—was His declaration that our sin debt was finally settled. Jesus’ shout from the cross offers the promise of forgiveness, suggesting that every wrong we have ever committed is nailed to that wood and cancelled. Yet, have you ever felt the weight of a mistake so burdensome that it seemed impossible to let go? Even with reassurance, it can be hard to completely trust in redemption, leaving us caught between doubt and hope.