Done or Finished?

After sending in the last of my judging comments for a writing contest I was involved in…I sent the co-ordinator these comments.

“I am DONE, DONE and DONE!”

And she replied…”Steak is done. You, however, are finished.”

Done, done and done sounds more to the point than Finished, finished, finished, don’t you think? I had to find out the difference…because I am a writer and I want to get it write.

If I am done, I am cooked through, thoroughly exhausted.

If I am finished I am terminating something, I brought something to an end.

I was thoroughly exhausted and in a pinch, I could say I was cooked through, but she was right. I was finished and I terminated my efforts for ever on that particular contest.

That’s what Jesus did on the cross. He didn’t say I am done…totally exhausted or cooked through. No, he said I am finished. 

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.(John 19:28-30, NIV)

Once and for all, Jesus completed, finished the job, on our behalf…so that our sins might be forgiven.

Prayer- No matter how we look at it God, thank you for the finished task of Jesus on our behalf…Amen.