“Tetelestai”
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” — John 19:30
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.
My husband and I faced a very difficult period that tested our faith and the strength of our marriage, and in this time I would go back and forth unsure of forgiveness and the meaning of Tetelestai. 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 simple yet deeply hungry for God. It reminded me of the story in Luke 7:36–50, where a woman, labeled by society as a sinner, entered Simon’s house with an alabaster jar of costly perfume—her most treasured possession. At Jesus’ feet, she wept, her tears flowing like a river of emotion. She wiped them away with her hair, kissed His feet, and poured out the precious ointment in an act of pure devotion. 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 rigid beliefs of the Pharisees, Jesus declared to the sinful woman, desperate to be at His feet, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50). Her raw determination, her humility, and her faith remind us of the beauty in surrendering completely to God, trusting that His grace is greater than our failings. John’s determination was just as raw, just as beautiful.
In that simple, makeshift home bathtub baptism, 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 isn’t based on how good we are. It’s not an exclusive VIP club for the righteous, leaving everyone else behind. His mercy isn’t just for those who follow all the rules—it’s for the broken, the struggling, and anyone who comes to Him with a humble heart.
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.
Imagine the scene: a sinful woman approaches Jesus, carrying an alabaster jar of precious perfume. She doesn’t flinch at the whispers or judgment around her. Instead, she breaks the jar and pours out the perfume in an act of pure worship and gratitude. Her actions didn’t earn her salvation—her faith did. It was her trust in Jesus, not her offering, that brought her forgiveness. Today, that same grace is available to us. We don’t have to earn it; it’s a gift freely given through faith. How will you pour out your worship to Him today?
True worship is simply love in action—lavish, unreserved, and born out of overwhelming gratitude for what Christ has done on the cross.
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.
