Easter is my favorite holiday, and I’m not shy about it. Part of this stems from fond memories of Easter weekend traditions as a kid, and part of it is tied in with the anticipation that accompanies the new life of spring, but on a deeper level it’s more than that. In my home, I strive to celebrate Easter with the same enthusiasm as holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Because when you stop and think about it, as believers, what we celebrate at Easter represents everything that matters. What happened at Easter defines our faith, our worship, and our purpose in life.
This Easter season at Calvary, we’re singing the song “It Was Finished Upon That Cross”. This song is a modern hymn with a great lilting melody that reminds of what it means for us when Jesus said “it is finished” as he gave up his spirit on the cross. The words help teach us why Easter is so significant.
Because of Easter, we have HOPE!
And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:2b-6, 8, 10 (NIV)
Because of Easter, we have RELATIONSHIP!
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,…For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34 (ESV)
Because of Easter, we have FREEDOM!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:1, 13-14 (NIV)
Because of Easter, we have PURPOSE!
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 19-25 (CSB)
I pray that as we walk through the busy weeks leading up to Easter, and even in the busy weeks after Easter, that we would not miss the weight of what we celebrate. I hope that this song will help guide our celebration. Because of Easter, EVERYTHING is different. Christ’s work on the cross and his triumph over the grave should move us to a place of deep rejoicing and celebration as we remember his great love for us. It was indeed finished upon that cross!
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
How I love the voice of Jesus
On the Cross of Calvary
He declares his work is finished
He has spoken this hope to me
Though the sun had ceased its shining
Though the war appeared as lost
Christ had triumphed over evil
It was finished upon that Cross
Now the curse it has been broken
Jesus paid the price for me
Full the pardon He has offered
Great the welcome that I receive
Boldly I approach my Father
Clothed in Jesus' righteousness
There is no more guilt to carry
It was finished upon that Cross
Death was once my great opponent
Fear once had a hold on me
But the Son who died to save us
Rose that we would be free indeed
Death was once my great opponent
Fear once had a hold on me
But the Son who died to save us
Rose that we would be free indeed
Yes He rose that we would be free indeed
Free from every plan of darkness
Free to live and free to love
Death is dead and Christ is risen
It was finished upon that Cross
Onward to eternal glory
To my Savior and my God
I rejoice in Jesus' victory
It was finished upon that Cross
It was finished upon that Cross
It was finished upon that Cross
CCLI Song # 7171907
Jonny Robinson | Nigel Hendroff | Rich Thompson
© 2021 SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CityAlight Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 702888
Looking for some music to enrich your personal worship throughout the week? Check our Calvary Worship Favorites playlist on Spotify. It’s an assortment of songs that we sing on the regular during our Sunday worship services.
If you want to get a taste of what we’ll be singing on any upcoming Sunday, check out our This Sunday At Calvary playlist. This list is updated weekly with the songs we’re planning to lead at the upcoming Sunday service.