‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’
We come to the 7th and final word that Jesus spoke from the cross...
Jesus has said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus has said to the believing criminal, crucified by his side, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Compassionate till the end, Jesus has said to Mary and John, “Dear woman, here is your son...Here is your mother.”
Suddenly the sun has disappeared and in midday darkness Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Revealing his true humanity Jesus gasps, “I am thirsty.”
With a sense of triumph he cries, “It is finished.”
And now, after 6 hours of crucifixion agony, Jesus takes hold of the words of Psalm 31:5 and says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
These words show us,
1. The plain fact that Jesus laid down his life at the moment of his choice
2. The significance of the moment of Jesus’ death
3. The trusting relationship Jesus had with his Father
1. The plain fact that Jesus laid down his life at the moment of his choice
Reading the different accounts, you get the impression that it was conscious decision that now was the moment for him to go. Jesus may be nailed to a cross but he’s in total control right to the end. Remember what he said in John 10:17-18...
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
And so we are reminded that Jesus was no victim of circumstances. He was obediently working out the plan of God.
2. The significance of the moment of Jesus’ death
Notice what had happened just before Jesus said these final words... v45...
The curtain of the temple was torn in two. The curtain that separated the most holy place of the temple; the most holy place that only the high priest was allowed to enter – and even he could only enter it once a year. That curtain of separation was torn in two. As Jesus’ sacrifice completed, the way into God’s most holy presence was finally open. The writer of Hebrews can hardly contain himself: What are we waiting for? Let us draw near to God!
3. The trusting relationship Jesus had with his Father
Notice that to the words of Psalm 31:5, ‘into your hands I commit my spirit’, Jesus adds the word, Father. Right to the very end Jesus’ is still trusting his heavenly Father. Right at the very end Jesus knows that if there’s one place in this universe that his spirit is safe, it’s safe in the hands of Father God.
I pray to God that each one of us here this morning has already prayed that prayer, that we have believed in the one who laid down his life for us, that we are revelling in our free access to God’s presence. I pray that we will not let this day go by without making sure we can echo Christ’s final words from the bottom of OUR hearts. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”.
Let’s pray together...
