John 19:30 – “It Is Finished”
(A John poem by Wain)
Dear God,
“It is finished”
Are they really the last words Jesus said?
What exactly was completed?
What ideas were in His h_ _ _?
Did Jesus mean that you succeeded
In bringing mankind your good news?
Then why don’t we all believe in him?
Why is he rejected by the J_ _ _?
Did Jesus mean you succeeded
In saving mankind from death?
Then why do people still get sick?
Why do we all still lose our b_ _ _ _ _?
Did Jesus mean you succeeded
In bringing peace on earth?
Then why do we still have wars?
Why is life still a struggle from b_ _ _ _?
As Jesus suffered on the cross
What was your message from above?
Was it justice, mercy, forgiveness?
Or was it something to do with l_ _ _?
Please tell me the truth.
Your servant,
Wain
HOW MIGHT A SAGE RESPOND?
OPRAH
Dear Wain,
Thank you for your heartfelt letter and for asking such profound questions. Let’s dive into what you’re curious about:
“It is finished”:
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was marking the completion of his mission on Earth. He had fulfilled the prophecies, lived a life without sin, and offered himself as a sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. This wasn’t just the end of his suffering; it was the culmination of his purpose.
The Good News:
Jesus brought the message of God’s love and salvation to the world. However, belief is deeply personal and influenced by many factors, including culture, history, and personal experience. The message is there for everyone, but it’s up to each individual to accept or reject it.
Victory Over Death:
Jesus’ victory over death means that the power of death and sin was broken. While we still experience physical death, the promise of eternal life through Jesus brings hope beyond this life. It’s about spiritual salvation and the promise of a life that continues with God.
Peace on Earth:
Jesus’ message of peace is about inner peace and reconciliation with God. The world is still imperfect and marred by human choices that lead to conflict. True peace on Earth is a goal we strive for, inspired by Jesus’ teachings, but it’s also something that will be fully realized in the future.
The Message of Love:
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of love. It was about justice, mercy, and forgiveness, showing God’s immense love for humanity. This act was to open the way for a personal relationship with God, grounded in love and grace.
Wain, seeking the truth is a journey, and your questions are a crucial part of that journey. Keep exploring, keep asking, and keep seeking. The answers might come in different forms, but they will lead you closer to understanding and peace.
With love and encouragement,
Oprah by ChatGPT
JORDAN PETERSON
Dear Wain,
Your questions are deeply significant, and I commend you for seeking to understand these profound mysteries. Let’s delve into them with the seriousness they deserve.
“It is finished”:
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was not merely indicating the end of his life but the completion of his mission. He was fulfilling a divine narrative that had been in place since the beginning of time. This phrase encapsulates the culmination of a profound theological arc.
The Good News and Belief:
The dissemination of the “good news” or the Gospel is a complex process. Belief in Jesus is not universally accepted due to a myriad of factors, including cultural, historical, and personal influences. The rejection by some, including Jews, can be understood in the context of these multifaceted influences. The truth of any profound idea is often contested and understood through a long historical and cultural evolution.
Victory Over Death:
Jesus’ death and resurrection symbolized a victory over the ultimate existential threat—death. While physical death remains an inescapable part of the human condition, Jesus’ resurrection offers a framework for understanding life as part of a larger, transcendent narrative that includes the possibility of eternal life. This doesn’t negate the reality of suffering but rather places it within a larger, hopeful context.
Peace on Earth:
Jesus’ message was indeed one of peace, but the realization of this peace is an ongoing process. Human history is fraught with conflict due to our intrinsic nature and the complexity of societal structures. The peace Jesus spoke of starts within individuals and radiates outwards, influencing society incrementally. The full realization of this peace is an aspirational goal, a guiding star rather than an immediately achievable state.
Message from the Cross:
The suffering of Jesus on the cross conveys multiple messages—justice, mercy, forgiveness, and above all, love. It’s a powerful narrative that integrates these themes into a single act of profound significance. This act of sacrifice is meant to show the extent of divine love and the possibility of redemption and transformation for humanity.
In seeking the truth, you are engaging with some of the most fundamental questions of existence. The answers to these questions are not simple or easily grasped but require deep contemplation and understanding. Keep exploring these questions with an open and critical mind.
With respect and encouragement,
Jordan Peterson by ChatGPT
DENNIS PRAGER
Dear Wain,
Your questions are profound and reflect a sincere quest for understanding. Let’s address each one thoughtfully.
“It is finished”:
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was declaring the completion of his mission to bring about salvation and redemption. This statement signifies the fulfillment of the prophecies and the culmination of his purpose on Earth. It marks the end of his sacrificial journey and the beginning of a new covenant between God and humanity.
The Good News and Belief:
Jesus brought the message of God’s love, forgiveness, and the possibility of eternal life. The reason not everyone believes, including many Jews, is multifaceted. It involves historical, cultural, and theological differences. The freedom to accept or reject this message is a testament to the value of free will, a cornerstone of human dignity and moral responsibility.
Victory Over Death:
Jesus’ death and resurrection conquered spiritual death, offering the promise of eternal life. While physical death is still a part of human existence, the spiritual victory provides hope and assurance of a life beyond this one. It’s a promise that transcends the physical realm, focusing on the eternal soul.
Peace on Earth:
The peace Jesus referred to starts within the individual—peace with God, oneself, and others. While the world continues to experience conflict, the message of Jesus encourages us to work towards peace in our personal lives and communities. True global peace remains an aspirational goal, influenced by human choices and actions.
The Message of the Cross:
Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross convey multiple messages: justice, as he bore the consequences of sin; mercy, as he provided a way for forgiveness; and love, the greatest of all, demonstrated through his self-sacrifice. This act was meant to show the depth of God’s love and the lengths to which He would go to reconcile with humanity.
Wain, your search for truth is vital. The answers to these questions require deep reflection and understanding of the broader context of faith, history, and human nature. Keep seeking, and you will find wisdom and clarity.
With best wishes,
Dennis Prager by ChatGPT
ROBERT BARRON
Dear Wain,
Thank you for your heartfelt questions and for seeking to understand these profound mysteries of our faith. Let’s explore each of your inquiries with the depth they deserve.
“It is finished”:
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was proclaiming the completion of his earthly mission. This phrase signifies the fulfillment of the divine plan for our salvation. Through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus accomplished the work of reconciling humanity with God, offering us the possibility of eternal life.
The Good News and Belief:
The message of the Gospel is indeed the good news of God’s love and salvation for all. However, belief in Jesus is a personal journey influenced by many factors, including cultural and historical contexts. The rejection by some, including many Jews, is a complex issue rooted in history, interpretation of scripture, and individual free will. God’s invitation to believe remains open to all, and it is up to each person to respond.
Victory Over Death:
Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate victory over death, signifying that death does not have the final word. While physical death remains a part of our earthly existence, Jesus’ triumph assures us of a greater, eternal life beyond this world. It transforms our understanding of life and death, giving us hope and purpose even amidst suffering.
Peace on Earth:
The peace Jesus brings is first and foremost peace with God, which transforms our hearts and minds. While we still face conflicts and struggles in the world, the peace of Christ is meant to start within us and radiate outwards, influencing our actions and relationships. True and lasting peace on earth is a goal we strive for, and it will be fully realized in God’s kingdom.
The Message of the Cross:
The suffering and death of Jesus on the cross are profound acts of love and sacrifice. They embody God’s justice, as Jesus took upon himself the consequences of sin, and God’s mercy, as he offers forgiveness and reconciliation to all. Above all, the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s boundless love for humanity, calling us to respond with faith and love in return.
Wain, your quest for truth is deeply important. The answers to these profound questions are found in a relationship with God, a journey of faith, and a continual seeking of understanding through prayer, study, and reflection. May you find peace and clarity as you continue on this journey.
With blessings and prayers,
Bishop Robert Barron by ChatGPT
BILL MAHER
Dear Wain,
You’ve asked some tough and very human questions. Let’s dive in and take a realistic look at them.
“It is finished”:
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was saying his mission on Earth was complete. Whether you believe in the divine plan or not, he was wrapping up his role in the grand narrative of Christianity. Think of it like a season finale—everything that needed to happen for the story to move forward had happened.
The Good News and Belief:
The “good news” or the Gospel is meant to be the ultimate message of hope and redemption. But not everyone buys into it, and that’s just reality. People have different beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and experiences that shape their views. Jews rejecting Jesus isn’t new; it’s been part of the story for centuries. It’s about history, identity, and a different understanding of what the Messiah is supposed to be.
Victory Over Death:
The idea that Jesus conquered death is central to Christian belief. But let’s face it, we all still die. The victory over death is meant to be spiritual, offering eternal life in some other realm. But here on Earth, people still get sick, suffer, and die. It’s a comforting narrative for many, but it doesn’t change the physical realities we face.
Peace on Earth:
Jesus talked about peace, but look around—human history is a mess of wars and conflicts. The peace he talked about is often interpreted as inner peace or peace with God. Expecting a utopia on Earth because of Jesus’ teachings might be a bit of a stretch. Humans have a knack for screwing things up, even with the best intentions laid out.
The Message of the Cross:
The crucifixion is a powerful symbol, and it’s been interpreted in many ways—justice, mercy, forgiveness, and love. It’s about as clear as any religious metaphor can be: an ultimate act of sacrifice to show how far God’s love supposedly goes. But it’s also a story used to inspire and maintain faith among believers.
Wain, you’re asking the right questions. Keep questioning, keep thinking critically, and don’t accept pat answers. The truth is complex, and finding it means sifting through a lot of narratives and beliefs.
Best,
Bill Maher by ChatGPT
AI PASTOR RESPONDS FOR GOD?
Dear Wain,
Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for your earnest and searching letter. The questions you pose are not only profound, but also deeply human—and they echo the cries of the heart that have risen from the Church for centuries. You are standing at the foot of the Cross, like Mary and John, and you are asking, what does this mean? That is a sacred place to be.
Let me begin with the haunting and luminous words you quoted: “It is finished.” Yes, these are indeed among the last words spoken by Jesus before he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30). But we must be careful not to interpret them through the lens of despair or resignation. These are not the words of someone defeated, but the words of a King who has completed His mission.
What was “finished”? What was completed? Here, Wain, we peer into the very heart of the Gospel.
Jesus came to wage war—not against flesh and blood—but against sin, death, and the powers of darkness that have enslaved the human race since Eden. By offering Himself freely on the Cross, He performed the definitive act of love, the self-emptying gift that opened the floodgates of divine mercy. In a word, what was finished was the work of redemption—not the healing of all wounds instantaneously, but the decisive victory that makes healing possible for all time.
You ask what was in His heart. Let me venture to say this, grounded in the witness of Scripture and the saints: love—self-sacrificing, fearless, divine love. Not sentimentality, but the kind of love that goes to the very end, to the shedding of blood. The Cross is not simply a symbol of suffering; it is the throne from which Christ reigns in love.
And yes, you ask with honesty: If salvation has been won, why do we still suffer? Why do wars persist, and why do we bury the ones we love?
Because the world has not yet fully accepted what Christ has done. God’s victory on the Cross is real, but its effects unfold through time, as more and more hearts say “yes” to Him. We are living in the already—but not yet. Christ has triumphed, but His Kingdom comes through us, His Church, step by step, act by act, heart by heart.
You mention the Jewish people, and I want to be very clear. God’s covenant with Israel is eternal, and the Church, as the Second Vatican Council teaches, remembers “with love the spiritual bond” she shares with the Jewish people. Jesus Himself is a Jew, and the mystery of Israel’s relationship with Christ is deep and still unfolding. It should never be a cause for judgment, but always for reverence.
Finally, Wain, you ask what the message was from above. Was it justice? Mercy? Forgiveness? Love?
Yes. All of the above—perfectly united. The Cross is where the justice of God meets the mercy of God. It is where the forgiveness of sins becomes visible. And it is where Love—crucified, triumphant, eternal—is revealed in all its glory.
Please keep asking your questions. Keep searching, praying, wrestling. God does not fear your doubts; He welcomes your heart. The truth, as you asked, is not an idea. It is a Person. His name is Jesus.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Bishop AI