RedeemedRestoredForgivenJohn19vs30
April 04, 2026
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Good Friday - Tenebrae 3-April-2026 Sermon Text: John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Sermon Theme: “Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Good Friday - Tenebrae 3-April-2026
Sermon Text: John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Sermon Theme: “Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “And how much do you owe my Master?”10,000 talents? 200,000 years wages? How much are you in debt? According to US Debt clock your share of the national debt of over 39 trillion dollars is $113,776 per citizen or $357,068 per taxpayer. Write your checks quickly - for every second your share of our national debt grows.
How much debt are you in? If you call your credit card company or bank and tell them, “From now I am going to be good. I will not charge any more on my cards or take out any loans from your bank. Thank-you for your business, cancel the rest of my debt, good bye.” The sheriff would soon be knocking at your door with a warrant for your arrest. Interest compounds, pay off a little - suddenly you owe more.
How much debt do you have before the only true Living God? He is Holy. He created you to be perfect as He is perfect. Every sin is a debt you owe Him. Every evil thought, harsh word, self-serving desire drives you further and further into debt. Stopping sinning doesn’t pay off the debt of judgement that you’ve accumulated from the moment of your conception. Your heart is full of evil from its youth. Pay off a penny against your trillion dollar debt by doing your good deed of the day - doesn’t even cover the compounding damnation and hell fire awaiting you.
The deeply indebted servant of the King pleaded for time to pay off his 200,000 year debt. The King gave him something he didn’t deserve - mercy. He forgave the debt. The King alone would pay for the debt incurred with His own sweat and blood.
Tonight we have heard of our debt settled through Jesus’ passion. In Him only we are redeemed, restored, forgiven!
The time for the evening sacrifice, 3p.m., was approaching. The Lamb of God suffered hell for the sins of the world during three hours of total darkness - from noon to 3p.m.. He has drank the cup of the Father’s just judgment for our sins. He has won our redemption.
St. John was an eyewitness at the foot of Jesus’ cross. John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Tetelesti - It is finished - all is brought to completion. Jesus’ prayer is answered. As the nails pierced His innocent flesh He prayed, “Father, forgive them.’ Now the payment has been satisfied. The bill every sinner owed is paid in full all - once for all. The Lord has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. We are redeemed.
Our sin drove us from God, from life, from truth, from light. Satan captured us in the net of sin, lies, death, and darkness. Now the devil is cast out. His head is crushed. He has expended all his evil upon Jesus. The second Adam still lives. His throat parched. He thirsts. Thirsts for your redemption, your restoration! Receiving the sour vinegar He shouts your victory! “It is Finished!” All your sin which separated you from your Creator God has been washed away in the flood of His blood. You are restored - a son of the Father through the second Adam. He restores you to the Father’s House in His kingdom of Grace - the Church.
Now God the Holy Spirit applies the healing balm of Jesus’ stripes. They heal you. You are forgiven! God remembers your sin no more!
How much do you owe? Stand at the foot of the cross, lay all the debt of your sin on Jesus. Hear your Savior shout! Paid in Full! It is Finished! You are Mine and I am yours - for I have baptized you into My death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit now daily and richly forgives you all your sins for Christ’s sake. Cling to His Word - FOR YOU - It is Finished!
The hymnist teaches us to confess this precious truth in song:
1 Redeemed, restored, forgiven, Thro' Jesus’ precious blood,
Heirs of His home in heaven, Oh, praise our pard'ning God!
Praise Him in tuneful measures Who gave His Son to die;
Praise Him whose sev'nfold treasures Enrich and sanctify.
2 Once on the dreary mountain We wandered far and wide,
Far from the cleansing fountain, Far from the pierced side;
But Jesus sought and found us And washed our guilt away;
With cords of love He bound us To be His own for aye.
3 Dear Master, Thine the glory Of each recovered soul.
Ah! who can tell the story Of love that made us whole?
Not ours, not ours the merit; Be Thine alone the praise,
And ours a thankful spirit To serve Thee all our days.
4 Now keep us, Holy Savior, In Thy true love and fear
And grant us of Thy favor The grace to persevere
Till, in Thy new creation, Earth’s time-long travail o’er,
We find our full salvation,And praise Thee evermore. Amen.
Sermon Text: John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Sermon Theme: “Redeemed, Restored, Forgiven!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. “And how much do you owe my Master?”10,000 talents? 200,000 years wages? How much are you in debt? According to US Debt clock your share of the national debt of over 39 trillion dollars is $113,776 per citizen or $357,068 per taxpayer. Write your checks quickly - for every second your share of our national debt grows.
How much debt are you in? If you call your credit card company or bank and tell them, “From now I am going to be good. I will not charge any more on my cards or take out any loans from your bank. Thank-you for your business, cancel the rest of my debt, good bye.” The sheriff would soon be knocking at your door with a warrant for your arrest. Interest compounds, pay off a little - suddenly you owe more.
How much debt do you have before the only true Living God? He is Holy. He created you to be perfect as He is perfect. Every sin is a debt you owe Him. Every evil thought, harsh word, self-serving desire drives you further and further into debt. Stopping sinning doesn’t pay off the debt of judgement that you’ve accumulated from the moment of your conception. Your heart is full of evil from its youth. Pay off a penny against your trillion dollar debt by doing your good deed of the day - doesn’t even cover the compounding damnation and hell fire awaiting you.
The deeply indebted servant of the King pleaded for time to pay off his 200,000 year debt. The King gave him something he didn’t deserve - mercy. He forgave the debt. The King alone would pay for the debt incurred with His own sweat and blood.
Tonight we have heard of our debt settled through Jesus’ passion. In Him only we are redeemed, restored, forgiven!
The time for the evening sacrifice, 3p.m., was approaching. The Lamb of God suffered hell for the sins of the world during three hours of total darkness - from noon to 3p.m.. He has drank the cup of the Father’s just judgment for our sins. He has won our redemption.
St. John was an eyewitness at the foot of Jesus’ cross. John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Tetelesti - It is finished - all is brought to completion. Jesus’ prayer is answered. As the nails pierced His innocent flesh He prayed, “Father, forgive them.’ Now the payment has been satisfied. The bill every sinner owed is paid in full all - once for all. The Lord has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. We are redeemed.
Our sin drove us from God, from life, from truth, from light. Satan captured us in the net of sin, lies, death, and darkness. Now the devil is cast out. His head is crushed. He has expended all his evil upon Jesus. The second Adam still lives. His throat parched. He thirsts. Thirsts for your redemption, your restoration! Receiving the sour vinegar He shouts your victory! “It is Finished!” All your sin which separated you from your Creator God has been washed away in the flood of His blood. You are restored - a son of the Father through the second Adam. He restores you to the Father’s House in His kingdom of Grace - the Church.
Now God the Holy Spirit applies the healing balm of Jesus’ stripes. They heal you. You are forgiven! God remembers your sin no more!
How much do you owe? Stand at the foot of the cross, lay all the debt of your sin on Jesus. Hear your Savior shout! Paid in Full! It is Finished! You are Mine and I am yours - for I have baptized you into My death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit now daily and richly forgives you all your sins for Christ’s sake. Cling to His Word - FOR YOU - It is Finished!
The hymnist teaches us to confess this precious truth in song:
1 Redeemed, restored, forgiven, Thro' Jesus’ precious blood,
Heirs of His home in heaven, Oh, praise our pard'ning God!
Praise Him in tuneful measures Who gave His Son to die;
Praise Him whose sev'nfold treasures Enrich and sanctify.
2 Once on the dreary mountain We wandered far and wide,
Far from the cleansing fountain, Far from the pierced side;
But Jesus sought and found us And washed our guilt away;
With cords of love He bound us To be His own for aye.
3 Dear Master, Thine the glory Of each recovered soul.
Ah! who can tell the story Of love that made us whole?
Not ours, not ours the merit; Be Thine alone the praise,
And ours a thankful spirit To serve Thee all our days.
4 Now keep us, Holy Savior, In Thy true love and fear
And grant us of Thy favor The grace to persevere
Till, in Thy new creation, Earth’s time-long travail o’er,
We find our full salvation,And praise Thee evermore. Amen.
© 2026 Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana Podcast. All rights reserved.