On Sunday we followed an old Christian tradition (I mean really old - centuries old) of baptizing new believers on Easter Sunday. I have to say, it was the most exciting Easter in my memory.

Because of the baptisms my message was very brief, but it included something that I think is really important for us to understand about Jesus' death and resurrection...

“Knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30)

Those three words I underlined - completed, fulfilled and finished - are all forms of the same Greek word. When Jesus said "It is finished" He wasn't simply saying that His life or the ordeal of the cross was over. He was saying that His mission was completed and fulfilled. I prefer the translation, "It is accomplished."

As Jesus said to Pilate, "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world..." (John 18:37).