A task incomplete
Do you leave tasks unfinished? Jobs undone? I can’t stand dirty dishes left on the bench or a half-unpacked dishwasher. But a shovel in the garden or a lunchbox in a bag for a few days? That’s a different story!
Starting as CRU CEO, I’ve been reminded by my to-do list and various people that the list of things to do never ends! There’s always more. Incomplete tasks feel uncomfortable. Should it always feel that way?
Think about CRU’s vision: “Sharing Jesus with a new generation.” How do you tick that off the list? You can’t! At least not until Jesus returns. There will always be another generation, more children and youth who need to know their Saviour and risen Lord.
Recently, while reading John 19 with a young guy I mentor, three words stopped us: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
What was finished?
Jesus’ earthly (pre-resurrection) life was ending, but it was far more than that. His mission was complete. Just two verses earlier, John records, “After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had now been completed, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’” (19:28). They gave the sour wine on a sponge, he tasted it, then said, ‘It is finished’ before bowing his head and giving up his spirit. At the cross, in the event of His death and resurrection, Jesus completed his mission, fulfilling the Scriptures. That little phrase carries the weight and content of the entire Old Testament!
“This is why CRU’s work to tell the next generation is so vital — and will never be finished until He returns!””
Jesus lived the perfect life, doing all that was right, even through temptation and torment. As Israel was God’s chosen people, Jesus was God’s chosen person, fulfilling all righteousness. In His final cry, “It is finished,” Jesus declared His obedience to the very end. He came to serve and suffer, and he completed that work, dying as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice.
John writes as an eyewitness, “His testimony is true… so that you also may believe” (19:35). He concludes, “These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled” (19:36).
Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Jesus did all that was required, all that was foretold, all that was needed. He completed His earthly work so He could ascend and reign as risen Lord of all.
This is why CRU’s work to tell the next generation is so vital — and will never be finished until He returns! Because Jesus reigns over all, all need to submit to His reign. Our faith doesn’t put Him on the throne; He’s there because He finished His work. He died and rose to reign forever.
Which leaves everyone with a choice: Will we recognise His reign or not? And if we do, let’s commit to telling others, especially the next generation!
Thank you for standing with us in this vital work of sharing the great news of Jesus’ finished work.
In Him,
Nick Hood
CEO
“There will always be another generation, more children and youth who need to know their Saviour and risen Lord.”