It is Finished: The Final Breath of the Savior
As Jesus carries the wooden cross to Golgotha, pain and love intertwine in each step. Simon of Cyrene helps bear the burden, sharing a silent moment with the Savior. Nailed between two thieves, Jesus forgives one, promising paradise. Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene watch in anguish as darkness falls. With the final breath of the Savior, He surrenders His spirit; the earth quakes and the temple curtain tears. This powerful scene invites deep reflection: Will we mock or seek mercy? Flee or stay faithful? At the cross, burdens can be laid down. This is not the end—but the beginning of Easter’s redemptive hope.
The weight of the wooden cross presses deep into torn flesh as Jesus staggers toward Golgotha. With each step, the final breath of the Savior draws nearer. Simon of Cyrene, unexpectedly thrust into salvation's narrative, shoulders the burden alongside the Savior. Their eyes meet briefly—a wordless exchange filled with sorrow and unfathomable love.
At the hill called "the place of the skull," Roman soldiers methodically secure Jesus to the cross. Nails pierce flesh and bone. The cross rises with a sickening jolt. Between two thieves, Jesus hangs suspended between heaven and earth. One criminal mocks, the other seeks mercy. "Today you will be with me in paradise," Jesus promises with labored breath.
Below, Mary watches her son's suffering with silent agony. John stands faithful when others have fled. Mary Magdalene collapses in grief, her fingers digging into the dust. As darkness covers the land, Jesus looks beyond his pain and commits his spirit to the Father. His final breath shudders through his body, and immediately the earth quakes and the temple curtain tears from top to bottom.
Through this powerful episode, we journey alongside the Gospel writers as they wrestle with capturing this world-altering moment. How could mere words convey what happened when the Son of God gave his life? We're challenged to consider our own response to the cross. Are we like the scornful thief or the repentant one? Do we remain faithful like John or turn away? Do we recognize, as the centurion did, that "truly this was the Son of God"?
Whatever burdens you carry, whatever past haunts you, whatever future frightens you—lay it all at the foot of the cross. For this is not the end of the story; it's only the beginning. Join us as we continue this transformative Easter journey from betrayal to glory.
Thank you for joining us in this episode of In the Field Audio Bible, where we explore the richness of God’s Word, one chapter at a time. We hope today’s reading brought insight, comfort, or inspiration to your journey of faith.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions! Feel free to send us a text to let us know how In the Field Audio Bible is impacting your faith journey. Until next time, may God’s Word guide and bless you.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Welcome to In the Field Audio Bible's Easter mini-series The Kiss, The Cross and The Crown. My name is Christie, your host for this fifth episode, called It is Finished: the Final Breath of the Savior. Over these seven episodes, we will journey through the final days of Jesus Christ, from the moment of Judas's betrayal to Jesus's glorious ascension. Tonight, we journey with Jesus to Golgotha, where he carries the cross, bearing the weight of our sins. Through his suffering, the veil is torn, granting everyone direct access to him. The weight of the cross presses deep into torn flesh, splinters pierce raw wounds, and each staggering step is met with the cruel sting of dust and blood mingling on bruised skin. The sun, though, climbing toward its zenith, feels muted, as if creation itself mourns. Dark clouds gather on the horizon, the edges curling with an ominous warning. A hush falls over the crowd, punctuating only by the jeering of soldiers and the sobs of a few faithful ones who dare to stay close. Jesus stumbles. His battered body, already broken from the lashes of Roman whips, collapses under the burden of the crossbeam. A soldier, impatient and unmerciful, yanks him forward, but it is Simon of Cyrene who is forced to shoulder the wood. His eyes met Jesus' for a fleeting moment, eyes filled not with rage, not with resistance, but with sorrow, with love.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Simon of Cyrene, a strong-built man with broad shoulders, darkened by years of labor in the fields, had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. He never intended to be part of this scene of horror. The Roman soldier's grip on his arm had been firm, allowing no protest. As he stepped forward, his heart pounded, not in fear, but in a strange, unexplainable sorrow. The moment his hands touched the rough, blood-streaked wood, he felt its weight, not just its physical burden, but something deeper, something pressing against his soul. Jesus turned his head slightly, his face marred with sweat and blood, his lips cracked and dry. A silent understanding passed between them. Simon had carried heavy loads before, but nothing like this. This was the weight of a condemned man's suffering. As they moved forward, Jesus, though struggling, walked beside him. With every faltering step, Simon felt the frail warmth of his presence. Simon felt the frail warmth of his presence and yet, in that fragile, battered frame, there was a strength, something unbreakable, something eternal.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The road to Golgotha is long, winding through the heart of Jerusalem, past those who had waved palm branches only days before. Now, some spit, some mock, some turn away, unwilling to watch what they once welcomed. The women, Mary, his mother, Mary Magdalene, and others follow, follow their garment stamp with tears. Jesus, through labored breath, speaks to them daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Simon listens, his chest heaving with exertion. He wonders who is this man who, even now, carries the grief of others? Each footstep forward burns into Simon's memory. He has never met Jesus before this day. Yet something inside him tells him he will never forget him.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The hill looms ahead, Golgotha, the place of the skull. The earth beneath it is dry, cracked, waiting. The soldiers waste no time. Stripped of his garments, Jesus is thrown onto the wooden beams. Two soldiers grab his arms, their grip like iron, pinning them down. Another, his face set with practiced indifference, kneels beside him and places the first nail at the base of his wrist. With a brutal practice swing, the hammer falls. Bone and tendon snap under the force. Jesus' body tenses, his jaw clenches against the searing agony, but he does not scream Again. The hammer strikes, securing his hand to the wood. The same is done to the other wrist and then to his feet, one placed over the other. A final spike driven through flesh and bone, locking him to the cross, blood spills seeping into the rough grain of the wood, dripping onto the dust below.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Now comes the task of raising the cross. The soldiers, hardened by years of executions, grip the thick ropes fastened to the top. With grunts and heaves, they begin to pull. The base of the cross scrapes against the ground as it rises, inch by inch, the weight of Jesus' body shifts. His raw wounds tear further, his muscles strain as the cross smears upright. It jerks suddenly before slamming into place with a sickening jolt. The impact sends a fresh wave of agony through his limbs, sends a fresh wave of agony through his limbs, his chest heaving as he struggles to draw breath against the weight of his own body. Beside him, two thieves are also nailed to crosses, their agony mingling with his.
In the Field Audio Bible:
One thief, his face twisted with pain and resentment, sneers at Jesus. Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us? His words are laced with mockery, his heart hardened even in his final moments. But the other thief, his voice strained and weak, rebukes him. Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we, indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, his eyes, heavy with suffering yet filled with mercy, turns toward him. There is no bitterness in his gaze, only compassion. The thief's voice wavers as he pleads Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom With the last reserves of his strength. Jesus speaks words of unfathomable grace. Truly, I say to you today you will be with me in paradise.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Below the people watch Mary. His mother clutches her chest as though her own heart has been pierced. The lines on her face, deepful face, pale. The beloved disciple stands beside her, his youthful face, pale, his knuckles white, as he clenches his hands together. He had followed Jesus through countless miracles, had sat beside him at the Last Supper, had rested his head upon his chest, and now he watches helplessly as his teacher, his friend. His Lord hangs between heaven and earth.
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Mary Magdalene falls to her knees, her auburn hair spilling over her tear-streaked face as she gasps for breath between sobs. The one who had freed her from darkness, who had called her by name with such tenderness, is now abandoned to suffering. Her fingers dig into the dust as if she could somehow hold on to him, keep him from slipping away. She has never known love as she did in Jesus, a love pure, redeeming, unwavering. And now that love is bleeding out before her eyes, darkness begins to fall. The sky bruises with an unnatural twilight, shadows stretching long over the ground.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Jesus lifts his weary head, his swollen eyes, looking beyond the suffering, beyond the pain. His voice, weak yet resolute, breaks the stillness. Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit. Into your hands, I commit my spirit. The moment hangs heavy, the weight of eternity pressing upon the world. His final prayer is not one of defeat but of surrender of trust. Even in his agony he calls out, not in anger but in faith.
In the Field Audio Bible:
A final breath shudders through his body, then silence, and then the earth trembles. A great, violent quake splits the ground, shaking the city. Stones topple from buildings, the streets crack open. The sky, once dim, is now thick, with unnatural darkness. The temple curtain thick, unyielding tears from top to bottom, with a sound like thunder, an invisible force rendering the barrier between God and man. Those in the temple cry out in terror, some falling to their knees as the weight of the moment crushes their spirits. In the streets, people stagger, gripping walls, staring wide-eyed at the sky. Fear grips their hearts, a realization settling over them like a cold shroud Something beyond human understanding has happened. At Golgotha, the centurion falls to his knees, trembling. He has seen death before, but never like this. Truly, this man was the son of God. The wind ceases, the earth stills and all of heaven holds its breath.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The room was heavy with the scent of ink and parchment, the dim light of the oil lamps flickering, casting dancing shadows against the stone walls. The air was thick with the weight of the words that hung between them. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the four men who had seen the unimaginable, who had seen the unimaginable, sat in the dim glow quills poised, each of them wrestling with the task of bringing the truth to life. They had come together not just as witnesses but as bearers of the burden of memory of the story that was now unfolding before the world. Matthew's fingers trembled slightly as he set his quill to the parchment. The weight of it all, the truth of Christ's suffering, the agony of the cross, it was almost too much to put into words.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The quill scratched against the paper and for a moment the room fell silent as each man wrestled with his own thoughts. Mark broke the stillness first. His voice gruff, as if he had been holding something inside for far too long. John, he said, leaning forward, eyes locked on the other man. What was it like To be there To see it, to watch it all unfold? His voice faltered, but he pushed on. You were closer to him than any of us. How did you bear it?
In the Field Audio Bible:
John looked up from his parchment, his face drawn, the lines of grief still fresh in his eyes. His voice was soft, almost a whisper, but in the quiet room it was as if his words filled every corner. It was like nothing I can describe. He began, his hand resting on the paper, as though he could feel the weight of the moment even now. I stood at the foot of the cross and it felt as if the whole world had collapsed. The sky darkened and the earth trembled beneath me, but all I could see was him, the blood, the suffering, the love. It was like nothing. My eyes had ever seen Nothing. My heart had ever felt. Luke always.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The physician leaned in his brow, furrowed. What of his words, John? What did he say to you, to his mother? John's breath caught in his chest and for a moment his eyes closed, as if the memory was too painful to bear. The room seemed to grow colder, the flickering light dimming as his voice carried them back to that moment on the hill. He looked at me. His eyes, even through the agony, they were full of love, full of something that I couldn't even begin to understand.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Then Jesus said "Behold your mother. John's voice cracked and he paused, drawing a shuddering breath. Jesus commanded me, entrusted me with her care. Behold your mother, he said. And in that moment it wasn't just a command, it was a gift, a calling. Mark's eyes darkened as he let the weight of John's words settle over them. He shifted uncomfortably, the sorrow heavy in his chest. Mark said John, you were entrusted with her, his mother. That's a burden no one should have to bear, but also a deep honor.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Matthew, whose hands had been clenched around his quill, slowly released it and looked to John, his voice hushed. Did she speak? His mother, Mary, did she? John's eyes were distant, now lost in memory. He said she stood there silent, her eyes never leaving him. She was broken, but she didn't cry out, not like I thought she might. She watched helpless as he hung there and in her silence I could hear her soul breaking.
In the Field Audio Bible:
John paused, his breath ragged, when he spoke to me, to give her into my care. I knew no one else could have understood the depth of what he was asking. It was more than just the care of his earthly mother. It was his love, his trust that he placed in me. Luke shifted his hands, pressing against the table, saying but in that moment, John, when he entrusted you with his mother, did you know what he meant, or did it take time for you to understand? John hesitated, his eyes moment, I didn't understand, but in the days t followed, but glistening in the dim light, he said. At that moment I saw what he had meant. He wasn't just asking me to care for her body. He was asking me to protect her heart. He was asking me to be there for her in a way that no one else could be, to carry that love he had for her and to carry it for her for the rest of my life. Mark sat back in his chair, his gaze distant, as if he too could feel the enormity of that moment. It must have been a gift but also a heavy burden to bear. John nodded slowly, his face drawn with the memory. It was both a gift and a burden. I carried his love for her with me always, and the pain of that moment, of watching him die, of being there with his mother, of hearing him speak those words to me. It never left me.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The silence in the room deepened, each man absorbed in the weight of their own thoughts, their own memories. The oil lamps flickered, casting long shadows along the walls, as if the very room itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next word to fall. Matthew's quill scratched against the parchment. Again, the sound, a stark contrast to the heaviness of the room. Matthew said I wrote of his death. He murmured, his quiet voice, almost reverent of the darkness that fell of the veil in the temple tearing. It was as if the world itself mourned his passing. Luke's voice, hoarse with emotion, joined in saying and yet, even in the midst of all that pain, he spoke with such love, such care, his heart for his mother, for us. It was overwhelming.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Mark, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, his voice rough with emotion, saying and now we write. We captured this moment. We tell the world what we saw and still it feels. It feels so small and so inadequate. John looked up, his eyes shining with quiet conviction. We write what we know, what we saw, what we felt. We write of him, not just in his death but in his life in his love and even if his life In his love, and even if the words don't seem enough, they are all we have.
In the Field Audio Bible:
The four men sat there, the quills resting in their hands, the weight of the task before them almost too much to bear. They had witnessed the unimaginable, the suffering and the glory, and now they were entrusted with telling the world. The room felt charged with the reverence of their task and for a moment it was as if the air itself held its breath. John's voice, soft but filled with deep certainty, broke the silence. He said this is not the end, this is only the beginning. This is only the beginning. And as the others nodded, each man knew what they wrote would echo through time. Their words, their stories would carry the truth of the Savior's love, the depth of His sacrifice and the promise of his resurrection. As we close this episode, take a moment to sit with what we have just heard.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Picture yourself at the foot of the cross, standing alongside John, Mary and the women who followed Jesus. Imagine the weight of the sky darkening, the air growing thick with grief, the earth trembling beneath your feet. The voices of the crowd, some mocking, some mourning still echo in your ears. The soldiers stand by indifferent to the suffering before them, the thieves crucified beside the Savior. Each respond in different ways, one in scorn, the other in surrender. And above it all, Jesus hangs, bearing the weight of the world's sin, whispering words of forgiveness, even as he breathes his last breath.
In the Field Audio Bible:
What do we take from this? What do we carry forward into our own lives? Consider the cross. Jesus carried it through the streets, his body broken and weak, yet he bore it willingly. That cross was not just two wooden beams. It was a symbol of every burden, every sin, every sorrow that humanity has ever known. What crosses do we bear? What pain, regret or struggle weighs upon your shoulders? And when we feel that we cannot take another step, are we willing, like Jesus, to surrender to God's greater purpose? Are we willing to trust that even in suffering, there is redemption? There is redemption and Jesus, in His boundless grace, assured him.
In the Field Audio Bible:
In these two men we see the choice that we all must make. Will we harden our hearts, rejecting grace, or will we humble ourselves, recognizing our need for a Savior? Even in the final moments of life, mercy is still extended. It is never too late to turn to Him. Now consider John, the beloved disciple. He remained at the cross when others had fled. In the midst of his own fear and sorrow, he stood firm. And because of his faithfulness, Jesus entrusted him with a great responsibility caring for his mother, Mary, what has God placed in your hands? Who has he entrusted to you, whether it be a family member, a friend or even a stranger in need? Are we willing to be faithful in the callings that God has placed before us, no matter the cost? Then there is Mary. The mother of Jesus imagined her pain as she watched her son suffer, as she heard his final words, as she felt the finality of death take him from her. Yet in her pain, she remained present, she did not turn away.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Sometimes in life we are called to endure deep sorrow, to stand beside those who suffer, to hold on to faith even when all seems lost. What do we do in our darkest hours? Do we trust that God is still at work, even when we cannot see the full picture? That God is still at work, even when we cannot see the full picture. And let us not forget Mary Magdalene, a woman once bound by demons, now set free, now fully devoted to the one who saved her. She followed him to the cross and watched him die. Her story reminds us that Jesus redeems the broken, that no past is too far gone for grace to reach. How often do we carry the weight of our past, believing we are unworthy of love and redemption? Yet Jesus, in his mercy, calls us by name, just as he called Mary. Do we listen? Do we recognize his voice when he speaks?
In the Field Audio Bible:
Then there are the Roman soldiers. They had seen crucifixions before To them, this was another day's work, another execution in a long line of condemned men. And yet something was different. As the sky darkened, as the earth quaked, as Jesus breathed, his last one soldier uttered words that would change everything. Truly, this man was the Son of God. Even the hardest hearts can be softened by the truth of Christ. Even those who once stood in opposition can come to see the light. Do we believe that God can still change hearts today, even the hearts of those we consider our enemies, even our own?
In the Field Audio Bible:
And finally, the crowd, the ones who shouted crucify him. The ones who sneered and spit, who mocked and ridiculed. They had seen his miracles, heard his teachings, but in the heat of the moment they turned against him. How often do we, too, follow the crowd? How often do we let fear, anger or pressure dictate our actions, leading us away from truth? Are we willing to stand firm in faith even when the world is against us?
In the Field Audio Bible:
And then the veil Torn in two from top to bottom. In that single moment, everything changed. No longer was there separation between God and man, no longer was access to the Father limited. The sacrifice had been made, the price paid in full, and now we are invited into the presence of God, no longer distant, no longer held back by sin. Do we live in that freedom? Do we walk boldly into the grace that has been given to us?
In the Field Audio Bible:
As we close, I leave you with this the cross was not the end. The story did not end in darkness, in sorrow or in death. We must carry forward the truth that was entrusted to the disciples, to the women, to the witnesses who stood beneath the cross. We are not just observers of the story, we are a part of it. It is our story, our redemption, our invitation to live a life transformed by love. So I ask you, what will you do with the cross? What will you do with the choice of the two thieves, the faithfulness of John, the sorrow of Mary, the devotion of Mary Magdalene, the realization of the soldiers and the mistake of the crowd.
In the Field Audio Bible:
If, today, you find yourself carrying burdens too heavy to bear, if you feel like you have strayed too far or that your past is too broken, know this Jesus carried his cross for you. His love has no limits. His mercy reaches even the furthest heart. Whatever weighs on you today, lay it down at the foot of the cross. Lay it down at the foot of the cross. May we choose faith over doubt, surrender over pride and love over fear. May we stand at the foot of the cross, not as strangers, but as those who have been forever changed by the one who died for us and rose again. And as you step back into your life, into your routine, into the noise of the world, remember this moment. Hold on to it. Carry the cross not as a burden but as a symbol of hope. Live boldly, love deeply and never forget. This is not the end, it is only the beginning.
In the Field Audio Bible:
Thank you for joining me tonight as we journeyed through this fifth episode of The Kiss, The Cross and The Crown. I pray that you carry these reflections with you into your day, into your week, and that you find your strength in knowing God is with you in every trial, every temptation and every step of obedience. If this time in God's Word has encouraged you, take a moment to share it with someone who might need it, and be sure to join me next time as we continue walking from Judas' kiss to Jesus' glorious ascension, learning, growing and staying faithful in the field of life. Until next time. May you find peace in the quiet trust in God's call and rest in His unchanging love.
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This is In the Field Audio Bible where we Listen to the Bible One Chapter at a Time. The Kiss, The Cross and The Crown is brought to you by In the Field Media, a non-profit ministry dedicated to sharing the message of faith through the spoken word, with In the Field Audio Bible uplifting worship on WFWR, In the Field Worship Radio and Inspiring Christian Programming on In the Field TV. If this mini-series has blessed you, we invite you to support future series with a tax-deductible donation at www. inthefieldaudiobible. com/donate. Every contribution goes directly to this digital ministry helping spread the gospel to hearts around the world. From all of us at In the Field Media, thank you for being a part of this journey. May God's grace and peace be with you always.
