It Is Finished: From Ambition to Contentment

Jesus says, “It is finished.” He has done it. He, no one else. But why are we so busy when it is already finished - when Jesus has already accomplished everything we really need for life and hope?

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It Is Finished: From Ambition to Contentment

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The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

Classroom Instructions

Lesson

19:56

Session 6 Video

It might well be the greatest single word ever uttered.
- You think of the great words of history
  - Neil Armstrong (“One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”)
  - Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural (“with malice toward none, with charity toward all”)
  - MLK at the Lincoln Memorial (“I have a dream”)
  - Martin Luther (“Here I am. I can do no other. God help me. Amen”)
- Jesus beat them all with one word. Tetelestai.
  - With that one word Jesus brought to a close the entire story of Israel and the Old Testament, the Law and it’s requirements of us, God’s wrath, the authority of Satan and the reign of sin and death in the world.
  - With this one word Jesus opens the doorway to a new life, a new creation world where we have been reconciled to God, our sins have vanished, the guilt and shame in our past is forgotten, and we can go forward to honor and serve God with everything we have. One word for one brand new world.
And yet, the old world (the old self) still has its hooks in us.
- Jesus says, “It is finished.” He has done it. He, no one else.
- And yet, we pursue our own ambition — march to the beat of our own drummer, follow our own dreams, be true to ourselves.
But here’s the uncomfortable question this statement of Jesus forces to ask our busy selves: Why are we so busy when it is already finished — when Jesus has already accomplished everything we really need for life and hope?
How do we do that? We pursue something different than achievement. We pursue contentment.
- Contentment is a foreign word for us — we always want more and more — but to be satisfied with what you have? That feels wrong.
- But contentment is grace — it’s a life that recognizes that God has provided more than enough for us, and that His goodness is all we really need. And it’s that kind of trust that allows us to rest from all our busyness.
When John tells us about Jesus saying “it is finished,” he adds a little interesting detail. He tells us that after Jesus said that, He “bowed His head.” The word there for “bowed” is the same word used throughout Scripture for when God “inclines His ear” toward us. To listen to our needs. To provide all that we need.
- Contentment is trust — it allows us to rest knowing that God has turned His ear toward us, and in Christ, He has finished the work — given us everything we need.
So here’s the exercise for this session. Make a list. And make it as specific as you can. Don’t just write that you’re thankful for someone — really think about why you’re thankful for that person, how God is really using them.

It Is Finished: From Ambition to Contentment Instructions

Lesson

19:56

Session 6 Video

It might well be the greatest single word ever uttered.
- You think of the great words of history
  - Neil Armstrong (“One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”)
  - Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural (“with malice toward none, with charity toward all”)
  - MLK at the Lincoln Memorial (“I have a dream”)
  - Martin Luther (“Here I am. I can do no other. God help me. Amen”)
- Jesus beat them all with one word. Tetelestai.
  - With that one word Jesus brought to a close the entire story of Israel and the Old Testament, the Law and it’s requirements of us, God’s wrath, the authority of Satan and the reign of sin and death in the world.
  - With this one word Jesus opens the doorway to a new life, a new creation world where we have been reconciled to God, our sins have vanished, the guilt and shame in our past is forgotten, and we can go forward to honor and serve God with everything we have. One word for one brand new world.
And yet, the old world (the old self) still has its hooks in us.
- Jesus says, “It is finished.” He has done it. He, no one else.
- And yet, we pursue our own ambition — march to the beat of our own drummer, follow our own dreams, be true to ourselves.
But here’s the uncomfortable question this statement of Jesus forces to ask our busy selves: Why are we so busy when it is already finished — when Jesus has already accomplished everything we really need for life and hope?
How do we do that? We pursue something different than achievement. We pursue contentment.
- Contentment is a foreign word for us — we always want more and more — but to be satisfied with what you have? That feels wrong.
- But contentment is grace — it’s a life that recognizes that God has provided more than enough for us, and that His goodness is all we really need. And it’s that kind of trust that allows us to rest from all our busyness.
When John tells us about Jesus saying “it is finished,” he adds a little interesting detail. He tells us that after Jesus said that, He “bowed His head.” The word there for “bowed” is the same word used throughout Scripture for when God “inclines His ear” toward us. To listen to our needs. To provide all that we need.
- Contentment is trust — it allows us to rest knowing that God has turned His ear toward us, and in Christ, He has finished the work — given us everything we need.
So here’s the exercise for this session. Make a list. And make it as specific as you can. Don’t just write that you’re thankful for someone — really think about why you’re thankful for that person, how God is really using them.