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Tetelestai


When Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished” (Tetelestai), it marked the completion of a divine plan set in motion from the very beginning. That single word, Tetelestai, carries layers of meaning: a debt paid, a mission accomplished, and a victory secured. It encapsulates the essence of God’s work through Christ—a work that makes it astonishingly simple for us to live in right standing with God.

Seeking the Kingdom Simplified

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus commands us:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

At its core, this is about alignment—aligning our lives with God’s rule, His purpose, and His ways. From Genesis to the Gospels, God’s design has always been that we live as His image-bearers, walking in close relationship with Him. Yet, how often do we complicate what God has made so simple?

In Genesis, before humanity was formed, God prepared everything we would need: light, land, water, food, and fellowship. Only after everything was “very good” did God create humanity in His image. The work was complete, and humanity was invited to step into a relationship with the Creator and steward what He had already provided.

Fast forward to Jesus’ teaching, and we see the same principle: trust in God’s provision as you focus on aligning your life with His kingdom. What’s remarkable is how easy God has made this for us—not because of our own works, but because of Jesus.

Jesus as Our Righteousness

When we hear “seek His righteousness,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How do we attain righteousness in a broken world with all its struggles? The answer is freeing: we don’t have to.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus, through His perfect life, death, and resurrection, has become our righteousness. Where humanity failed to reflect God’s holiness and fulfill His commands, Jesus succeeded. When we seek the kingdom of God, we are not seeking righteousness through our efforts but by leaning fully on what Christ has already accomplished.

It Is Finished

God’s intention was never to burden us with unattainable religious demands. In contrast, Jesus invites us to rest in what He has already done:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

This is the simplicity of the Gospel:

  1. Jesus completed the work.

  2. We are invited to trust Him, letting Him guide and transform us.

  3. Everything we need flows from this relationship.

God made it easy, not by lowering His standards, but by fulfilling them Himself. Jesus is the key to right standing with God, opening the door to all the blessings and authority of His kingdom.

Living in Rest and Provision

From the Garden of Eden to the cross, God has shown us a consistent pattern: He does the work, and we step into the fruit of it. When we embrace this truth, we find freedom. Seeking God’s kingdom becomes less about striving and more about surrender. We align with Him through trust, worship, and obedience, knowing He provides all we need.

All the "things"—our needs, desires, and even our calling—fall into place when our hearts are fixed on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Because of Jesus, the heavy lifting is done.

So, when Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” remember this: the righteousness you seek is already yours in Him. The kingdom you pursue has already been made accessible through Christ. Tetelestai—it is finished.

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