Jesus’ statement from the cross, “It is finished!” (19:30) looks back to 13:1, which introduces the events of Jesus’ death by stating that Jesus loved his own “to the end.” A translation such as “it is achieve, it is accomplished,” referring to the consummation of the mission and work which God had given him to do, accurately captures the essence of tetelestai. Throughout the Gospel Jesus states that he does the work of the Father (e.g., 5:36; 10:25, 31; 14:11). Anticipating his death, Jesus states that he has accomplished the work God gave him to do (17:4). On the cross, that work is brought to its goal (telos), and so Jesus declares that work finished. In comparison to Jesus’ words as reported in Matthew and Mark, the last words of the Johannine Jesus appear to be a statement of victory. However, in view of the likely independence of John from the Synoptics, it would be rash to state that John substitutes a pronouncement of triumph for a cry of dereliction, or to interpret John’s words in light of the synoptic record. When interpreted on their own and in the context of Johannine theology, Jesus’ words are the ultimate, that is the last and the climactic, statement of his submissive obedience to God. Rather than suggesting the death of one untouched by human suffering, his words point to the death of one obedient to God’s command for him. (Marianne Meye Thompson, The Humanity of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1988], 108-9)
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