READING FOR JANUARY 28, 2026: ISAIAH 17, JOHN 19, PSALM 148:7-14 ISAIAH 17 Damascus was the capital of Aram, today known as Syria. Aram was often an enemy of God’s people but sometimes an ally of the northern kingdom. They worshiped a false God and at times led Israel to do the same. Thus, this prophetic word against them warns that they will suffer the same as the northern kingdom (vs.3), which is destruction by the Assyrians. This specific word is attributed to the Lord of Armies, a title giving us yet more insight into the multifaceted character of the God of the Bible.
Verses 4-11 provides a gloomy look into Israel’s future. It will be a devastated land with the exception of a few gleanings surviving. People will still be working to make the land fruitful, but the work will not be productive. In verse 10 the reason is given for this situation: they “forgot the God of their salvation.” As one whose short-term memory is diminishing, this writer earnestly desires never to forget God. The line from “Be Thou My Vision” comes to mind: “Thou my best thought by day and by night; Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.”
Verses 12-16 tell of faraway people who will rumble and pillage Israel. They will have their time of violence, as allowed by God to judge His people, but it will not last. God will drive them away once they have fulfilled their purpose. God’s orchestrating hand is over all, even as He seeks our voluntary love. Is it difficult to understand how both concepts are true? It has puzzled the greatest minds for thousands of years: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12).
JOHN 19 This chapter gives the details of the crucifixion of Jesus. Our study today will focus on the final words Jesus says before his death: IT IS FINISHED! What exactly was finished?
The Prophecies were Finished: The Scriptures that had foretold this day were now completed. Four times in this chapter, John specifically says that what was happening on the cross was the fulfillment of Scripture. (v24, 28, 36, 37) In chapter 18, we learned that Jesus knew all that was about to happen. Most likely he knew this because he knew the Scriptures so well. After the resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, he explained, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
His Suffering Was Finished: The cup was finally empty. It had just been the night before that he prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42) As they came to arrest him, he began to drink from that bitter cup. A cup that would include being bound, slapped, struck, spit upon, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, whipped and pierced. But with his last cry, the last drop was finished. The cup of suffering was empty.
READING FOR JANUARY 28, 2026 CONTINUED: JOHN 19, PSALM 148:1-14 His misery and his mission were finished. It is not a cry of despair. Rather, it is a proclamation of victory! “It is for this very reason that I came to this hour.” (12:27) Sometimes, we want to rush by the cross to get to the joy of resurrection on Easter Sunday. But let us linger here, for it is here at death that Jesus says, “It is finished!” What is finished for us?
The Power of Sin is Finished: The old hymn writer understood this when he wrote, “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.” Because sin is nailed to the cross, it is finished. The shackles of our sins are broken. We no longer need to fear condemnation for our sins. We can have victory over sin. It is finished!
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
The Power of Darkness is Finished: When Jesus cried out, Satan was finished. Satan thought it was his moment of victory, but Paul proclaims that it was on the cross that Jesus triumphed over all the power of darkness. (Colossians 2:15) Satan will continue to battle until Jesus returns to claim ultimate victory, but Satan’s power over us is finished. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John 3:8
The Power of Death is Finished: When Jesus bowed his head and died, the promise he spoke to Martha at the death of Lazarus was finished. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25) “It is finished” means that He has tasted death for all of us. We are promised life with God that will continue into eternity. “It is finished” is a cry of victory.
"Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Take a few moments and speak aloud, “It is finished!” Whisper it, declare it, sing it out. IT IS FINISHED!
PSALM 148:7-14 The first half of this Psalm was directed to heavenly entities. Now the second half directs us earth-bound creations to praise the Lord. We think about sea monsters in hor- ror movies, but let’s start visualizing them praising God along with the rest of us—no one and no thing are excluded in this happy opportunity. HE IS ABOVE ALL, not just Methodists.
