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

Jon Oswalt, an Old Testament professor from Asbury Seminary, wrote about some little-known happenings at Passover.  He said that on any given day, two lambs were slaughtered in the temple; one in the morning and one in the evening.  On Passover however, 250,000 lambs were slaughtered.  I can’t fathom it, can you?   Here’s the quote from Oswalt’s writing. 

“At Passover time, rivers of blood poured off the high altar, so much so that there was a gutter system under the altar designed to carry that blood away into the Kidron Valley.  Think about it: if Jesus waded across the Kidron on his way from the Upper Room to Gethsemane, he may have waded through blood up to his knees.”

Knowing that this would have been a yearly reality for the Jewish people, I’m surprised that they had long periods of disobedience, and subsequent captivity, given the horrific scenes they saw at each Passover.  It was visually evident how God felt about sin.  Such carnage was proof.  What must they have done to their hearts and consciences to be able to cope with the traumatic scenes each year?

Fast forward to the cross. Oh, what a moment when Jesus said, “It is finished.”  Did His mother understand the implications of His words? Did John and the few others who stood nearby? It was not mere commentary on life being over. In time, they would have a theological peg on which to hang the finished work of the cross. No more sacrifices!  No more bloodshed!

Fix my heart at the cross until I live in the freedom of what Your finished work has secured for me. Help my unbelief. Amen