FINISHED

Have you ever been hurt by someone?

Have you ever hurt someone else?

Have you ever felt that searing pain as the consequences of someone else’s mistake landed firmly in the centre of your life, overwhelming you and taking your breath away?

Have you ever felt the guilt descend as the realisation of the hurt you’ve caused someone else sinks in?

It can’t be undone.

The damaged has been caused, and a price has to be paid.

And so we start doling out the payback with bitterness, anger, vitriol, and silence, searching for a way to make the other person feel the pain we feel.

And we stand there as the payback is thrown at us with bitterness, anger, vitriol and silence as the person searches for a way to make us pay for what we have done.

We have all stood on both sides and yet when it comes to forgiveness, the hurts of others are the only ones we can remember.

…all have sinned and fall short…

Romans 3:23

I remember hearing somewhere that the pain of every single sin was fully experienced on the cross by Jesus.

Every single consequence of every single sin.

When you think back to times you have been hurt then can you even begin to imagine that pain multiplied endlessly and felt in every fibre of your body?

That’s what resonates with me this Good Friday.

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfil Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30

Facing the hurt that we carry isn’t easy.  Facing the hurt that others carry because of our actions can be even harder. Both can leave a sour taste in our mouths and can taint the flavour of everything in our lives. 

On that day, on that cross, it was finished. 

The pain that we carry doesn’t need to be carried. 

The guilt that we bear can be lifted. 

Jesus finished it, today!

This Good Friday, the sin of bitterness, anger and unforgiveness needs putting in its rightful place.

The sin of stubborness, pride and our unwillingness to admit our faults needs nailing to the cross.

It is finished, so finish it!

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

Horatio G. Spafford

Kay Moorby