Will You Simply Walk Away?

 

This article looks back on one hand, to the beginning of time at a “most horrible and depressing day” and on the other hand, to the fulfillment of God’s promises which is the good news. Written by Dr Mona Bias, a resident faculty in biblical studies at East Asia School of Theology, it is meant to make us contemplate our relationship with the living God during this Lent season.

The 40 days of Lent 2025 begins on 5 March, Ash Wednesday and ends on 17 April, Maundy Thursday. This is then followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday. Traditionally, and during this season, Christians around the world commemorate the events leading up to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such it is a time for self-examination and spiritual inventory accompanied by prayer, fasting, repentance, and giving.

The Fulfillment of Ancient Promises – Tetélestai

Tetélestai is a Greek term from the word teleo, which can mean “to fulfill,” “to complete,” “to end.” In the context of John 19:30, tetélestai means “it is completed” or “it is paid in full.” What is completed or paid in full? Kindly read on to find the answer to this important question.

Where It All Began

It was the most horrible and depressing day of their entire lives–worse than if heaven and earth had collided and got them stuck in between. Adam and Eve chose to rebel against the living God. This cost them everything and left them with nothing but pain: Eve would bear children in pain (Gen 3:16) and Adam would have to labour very hard to eke out a living (Gen 3:17-19). And worse, all their children and all their descendants, all those who would come after them, would have to bear the consequences of their rebellion. God however, continued to extend His mercy to the couple He had created.

The Proto-Evangelion

God did not spare the serpent, the instigator and accomplice of Adam and Eve’s rebellion. As punishment, “The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the cattle and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl[c]and dust you will eat all the days of your life. And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel’” (Gen 3:14-15, italics mine).

The sentences above in italics, is what theologians call the proto-evangelion. Thousands of years before Jesus Christ intervened in history, God declared that the entity behind the serpent in the Garden of Eden would ultimately be defeated.

Clothing with the Hide of an Animal in the Place of Leaves

God knew that the fig leaves which Adam and Eve sewed together to cover themselves would not last long. So, Yahweh Himself clothed the couple with durable garments made out of animal skin (Gen 3:21). God had to kill the animals. The necessity of the shedding of blood for forgiveness and redemption has its origin in the Garden of Eden (cf. Heb 10:29).

Banishment as an Act of God’s Love

God then banished Adam and Eve from the garden. If this was painful on the side of the couple, it was far more excruciating on the side of God. Embedded in this action of God however, is the blending of His mercy and justice. If Adam and Eve had continued to stay in the garden and in their sinful state ate of the tree of life, then they would have lived in this sinful state for all eternity. To ensure this did not happen, God stationed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the entrance to the garden and thus prevent the couple from entering the way to the tree of life (Gen 3:22-24).

Types that Point to God’s Acts of Redemption

To remind His people that God had not forgotten them, He gave them select types representing His redemptive acts until Jesus Christ, the final sacrifice came.

1. The acceptable offering: When Cain and Abel brought their offerings to God, God rejected Cain’s offering while He accepted Abel’s because the latter brought the best of his flock and obediently offered this in the way that God had established (Gen 4:3-7). This animal sacrifice was practiced in the time of Noah and right down through the time of the patriarchs and onwards.
2. The ram instead of Isaac: When Abram had passed God’s test by being willing to give up his most treasured possession in obedience to Yahweh, God Himself provided the ram for the sacrifice in the place of Isaac (Gen 20:10-13).
3. The Passover lamb: On the night of the exodus, Yahweh visited the dwelling places of the Israelites and when He saw the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and lintels, He passed over them so that on that night, there was no death of the first-born among the Israelites (Exod 12:1-13, 21-30).

The Promise of God’s Presence and of A Saviour

Many centuries passed and during the reign of king Ahaz, Rezin and Pekah combined forces to attack Jerusalem. Ahaz, then the king of Judah, panicked. Yahweh sent Isaiah to encourage him by prophesying that the plans of Rezin and Pekah would not materialize. Isaiah instructed Ahaz to ask God for any sign to prove that the two kings would not attack Judah. Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, reasoning that he did not want to put Yahweh to the test. This was pure unbelief, disguised as religious hesitation, but nevertheless, God did give Ahaz a sign: “Look! The young woman is pregnant and is about to give birth to a son. She shall name him Immanuel” (Isa 7:14). This verse is both a statement to address Ahaz’s present need for encouragement and also a prophecy about the birth of the promised Messiah.

As Rezin and Pekah tried to encroach on Jerusalem, Ahaz need not fear. The child named Immanuel would remind him: God is with us. Yes, as a nation they would experience God’s presence and protection. Isaiah also prophesied that a suffering Servant would become the sin offering of the people and through his death, many would be declared not guilty (Isa 53:10-12).

The Fulfillment of the Promise

Prophets, kings, and the people continued to wait for the promised Messiah. It was not until 700 years had passed since Isaiah’s promise that “when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights” (Gal 4:4-5). Thus, on that very special night, the angel announced to the Shepherds: “Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, cf. Matt 1:21). This Savior who was born is the Immanuel about whom Isaiah had prophesied (Matt 1:23). Thirty years passed, and John the Baptist was baptizing people at the Jordan River. On seeing Jesus Christ, he declared: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Jesus Christ is the Final Sacrifice and Eternal Mediator

Jesus Christ is the final sacrifice (the Passover lamb) for the forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:24-28; 10:12; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Cor 5:7). On account of His sacrifice, the penalty for sin has been paid for (Rom 3:24; 1 John 2:2, 4:10). He is also the eternal priest and mediator between God and all humanity (1Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6) so that there is now reconciliation between humankind and God (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18-19). On account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith is sure and valid (1 Cor 15:14-19). We have the promise of eternal life when we trust in Him who said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And whatever we do for the sake of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, these are never in vain.

Tetélestai

Although this word is used only twice in the New Testament (John 19:28, 30), it is pregnant with meaning. Jesus Christ completed His mission and paid in full the necessary price to bridge the chasm–created by the rebellion of Adam and Eve (Matt 27:51)–between God and humanity. Through Christ’s sacrifice the ethical demands of Yahweh, the living and holy God, were met once and for all (Heb 10:9, 12, 14). Any person can now go into the presence of God through Jesus Christ (Heb 9:15; 12:24). And all of God’s promises find their fulfillment in Him (2 Cor 1:20).

Will You Simply Walk Away?

Imagine that you were with the crowd on that one fateful day in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross. About to breathe His last, He cried out, tetélestai! Would you simply walk away without considering His claims and what He has done for and on account of you?

Shall we pause a moment to praise God for who He is; His self-revelations; and His awesome deeds to bring about His plans and purposes? We equally thank Him for sending our Saviour Jesus Christ to give us eternal life, purpose and meaning to life, hope, and a chance to experience all of God’s promises.

Something to think about . . .

1. Imagine that you were at the site–a witness to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Golgotha some 2000 years ago. Would you simply walk away from the place without being affected?

2. If Jesus Christ did not come as God had promised, what would life have been like for you?

3. How about reading a chapter or two on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (either Matt 27–28; Mark 15–16; Luke 23–24; or John 19–20). Spend some time meditating on the chosen chapters. Thank God for His awesome and immeasurable love for you. Affirm your love and commitment to Him. Relish the fact that you have been forgiven in Christ. As a result, you have peace with God and could now bask in His presence.

4. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about 45 kilograms for the burial of Jesus Christ (John 19:39). How about you? What would you bring to Jesus as a thanksgiving offering for what He has done for you?

5. Having experienced God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ, what would you do this week to bring His  message of love, forgiveness, and hope to a family member, a colleague, a neighbour, or someone in pain?

A Word of Invitation from Dr Mona Bias
EAST is committed to helping fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20) by preparing servant leaders to be pastors, church planters, ministers and missionaries in the harvest field of Asia and beyond. As a faculty member, I feel privileged at the opportunity to teach and disciple them and in some ways be a part of their lives and ministries. Most of the international students, however, could not afford the high cost of their education and living expenses. Each student needs a subsidy of S$11,000 annually. For the 40 new students, the school needs to raise S$440,000 annually.

May I invite you to invest in the lives of our international students by helping to cover their tuition and/or living expenses while studying at EAST? Kindly pray, consider, and decide as the Lord leads. You can give by clicking here or the button below.

 

About a Commentary on the Book of Job by Dr Mona Bias
Pain is a common experience. It comes on every one without exemption. While most try to evade it, some choose to welcome these as friends. Many others raise questions such as the following: Why me? Where is God when I needed Him most? Why is He deafeningly silent? Why does He allow suffering? What is the ultimate purpose for pain and suffering? How should I respond when experiencing undeserved suffering? The Book of  Job tries to address these questions. Check the work of Mona P. Bias entitled, Job: A Pastoral and Contextual  Commentary, published in 2024 by Langham Global Library and Asia Theological Association. You can obtain  copies at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle.