Sunday, April 5, 2015

"It is has been accomplished" and the Resurrection

Preamble:

The Greek word for "has been accomplished" (tetelestai) appears twice in the New Testament--both in John 19 (vss. 28 and 30).  Many Christians gloss this to mean that Jesus paid in full the debt of human sin trading off a particular meaning of telelestai in the commercial realm having to do with the satisfaction of debt.  I don't think this is what it means in John and this has important ramifications.

John 19:28-30:

28After this, aware that all was now finished [tetelestai], in order to bring the Scripture to its complete fulfillment, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  29There was at hand a jar full of common wine, so they struck a sponge soaked in this wine on some hyssop and raised it to his lips.  30When Jesus tool the wine, he exclaimed, "It is finished [tetelestai]"; and bowing his head, he handed over his spirit.
The "all" in verse 28 most likely refers to all that the Father had given Jesus to do (see 4:34; 5:36; and 17:4).  Importantly, the "all" includes activity that goes beyond merely Jesus' sacrificial death.  It makes sense to claim that Jesus thought of his death as the end of his earthly mission and viewed this mission as having been foretold in Scripture--it is the Father's mission after all.  Luke/Acts also views 1) Jesus' death, 2) telos, 3) Scripture fulfilled as a triad (see Luke 18:31; 22:37; and Acts 13:29).

The Resurrection:

However, Jesus did not view his death as his end.  The Gospel sees Jesus' death as his departure to the Father (for example see 13:1--mention here is made of Jesus loving his own to the end [telos]). Jesus says that he lays down his life that [hina] he might take it up (10:17).  It is clear that Jesus views his resurrection has part of what God planned (15:18; 17:5).  It is interesting that eternal life is mentioned in close approximation to those text which mention Jesus completion of God's plan (4:34/4:36; 5:36/5:39; 17:4/17:3).

Theological Upshot:

"It is accomplished" refers to more than Jesus' atoning death.  Rather, it refers to Jesus' whole mission which included returning to the Father and giving the Spirit (7:39).  When Jesus' says that he must be lifted up (3:14; 8:28; 12:32) he most likely includes the resurrection/ascension in that lifting.  The death of Jesus is not the end!      

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