“In Jesus’ time, when a person owed a debt, a document was drawn up stating the exact terms of the debt and what needed to be done to pay off the debt. When the debt was completely repaid, one word was written across the document: tetelesthai. The word communicated that the debt had been “paid in full.”
This was the final cry of Jesus from the cross: “paid in full.” All that was required to abolish the “debt” of humanity’s rebellion against God had been paid by the hours Jesus had just spent on the cross and what was about to occur. With this final declaration, Jesus died. Atonement was complete. That which we could never do, Jesus did. As Paul says so simply, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8).
Bob Beltz, email Good Friday point 3, April 2, 2010.