Did Jesus Think He Was a Failure?

Q: Was Jesus giving in to doubt and despair when He cried out from the cross that it was all finished? Did He think He’d been a failure? — Mrs. A.S.

A: No, when Jesus cried out, “It is finished”, He was not expressing despair or doubt — although His enemies may have thought so, since it looked like they had won. Some of His disciples felt the same way, forgetting the promises He’d made to them that He would be raised from the dead by the power of God.

Instead, His words were a strong affirmation that the work God have given Him to do during His time on earth was now finished — totally and completely. In His final prayer for His disciples, Jesus declared, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4). Nothing more needed to be done!

What was that work? Why did Jesus — the divine Son of God — leave Heaven’s glory and come into the world? He came for one reason: to become the final sacrifice for our sins. We deserve only God’s judgment — but on the cross, Jesus Christ took upon Himself the judgment and Hell that we deserve. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves, and now He offers us forgiveness and salvation as a free gift — free, because He has already paid the price for it.

But like any other gift, we must receive it. We do this by turning to God in repentance and faith, and trusting Christ alone for our salvation. Have you received Him and welcomed Him into your life? God’s promise is for you: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.