In the Father’s Hands – Luke 23:44-49
Gladstone Baptist Church – 6/4/07 am
1. Final Words are profound
As a person lies on their death bed, their final words have a real sense of significance. Friends linger, hoping to catch the final words. Last words actually tell us a lot about that person.
Here are some last words of some famous people …
“How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?” ~ P. T. Barnum, entrepreneur, d. 1891
Friends applaud, the comedy is finished. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven, composer, d. March 26, 1827
“I am still alive!” Stabbed to death by his own guards - (as reported by Roman historian Tacitus) ~ Gaius Caligula, Roman Emperor, d.41 AD
“I’m bored with it all.” - Before slipping into a coma. He died 9 days later.~ Winston Churchill, statesman, d. January 24, 1965
“Put out the light”. ~ Theodore Roosevelt, US President, d. 1919
“Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.” ~ Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900
“I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.” ~ Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, d.1170
2. Recap of Jesus’ 6 previous words from the cross
Over the last couple of weeks, you have been looking at the last words of Jesus from the Cross. Jesus spoke 7 times from the cross. And each in its own right was a fulfilment of prophecy.
1) There was a word of forgiveness … (Lk 23:34) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” - Jesus even in death was concerned for his enemies. He turned the other check and prayed for those who persecuted him. This is a fulfillment of Is 53:12 which says … “he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
2) There was a word of Salvation … (Lk 23:43) “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus’ whole mission was to seek and save those who were lost and around the cross that day were many who were lost. He welcomed that day one sinner who asked for salvation – one who was also in the midst of being executed. Jesus came to save – that is what was prophesied about him in Matt 1:21 when the angel said “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
3) The third word was a word of Affection. (Jn 19:26-27) he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” Jesus was always thinking about others and as Paul said, he was in this statement building a community based on love. Mary must have been crushed to see her only son killed in this way. It was a fulfilment of Simeon’s prophecy in Luke 2:35. But Jesus here provides support and a family for his mother with one of his final words.
4) the fourth word was a word of Anguish. (Matt 27:46 and Ps 22) “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus has been under the wrath of God for 3 hours when Jesus uttered this cry. All the sins of mankind are heaped on his shoulders and God has to turn away from his Son. Jesus had only ever known the closest communion with God, but now God unleashes his fiercest judgment on him. All the flogging and crucifixion pales into insignificance in Jesus’ mind when compared to this horrific reality of separation from his God, his Lord and his Father.
5) The fifth word was a word of Suffering. (Jn 19:28) “I am thirsty” Jesus was God, but he was also human and through all of this, he suffered as a man. He had real needs and real pain. His thirst was real. It was a fulfilment of Ps 69:21 - “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”
6) The sixth word was a cry of Victory (Jn 18:30) “It is finished” Charlie spoke on this and explained that it was a word that meant it is finished – and as a result, it is forever done. Jesus had paid the price for our sins and the transaction was finished – it was forever done. There was nothing that was left needing to be done and no part that was incomplete. The work was finished
7) And today we are going to look at the seventh word – a word of contentment.
If you have your bibles open, turn with me to Luke 23:44
. 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus’ final words are profound. But especially this last statement because in it we see 4 things that this simple word tells us about the way Jesus died and each of these things challenges us about the way we live our lives today.
3. His final word shows Jesus back in communion with God – Do we grasp the preciousness of this communion?
Firstly, Jesus’ final words from the cross show that Jesus was back in communion with God. You will remember that the fourth word from the cross was “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” Jesus was abandoned by God because he was sinful. He became sin by taking on all the guilt and evil of every human being.
You think that God would be revolted by the sins of some evil people in this world – and he is. But the truth of the matter is that he is revolted by any sin – even the smallest is detestable to him. Imagine how much more so if all the guilt of all human beings – good and evil men, women and children were collected together in one man. Jesus was this man and God poured out his punishment on Jesus. Jesus – isolated and alone, bore the punishment for our sins. He had lost the knowledge of and assurance of God’s presence. He suffered in this way for 3 hours. The time that darkness covered the land. It is an interesting aside that for us, we die and then we face judgment, but for Jesus, he faced judgment on the cross before he died. He was truly unique in the way he died.
But here in this cry – “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, we see Jesus emerging through the storm. He is conscious again of God’s enduring love and favour. His work was finished. His suffering was finished. He was again sensing God’s glorious presence in a restored relationship. And so on the cross he can cry out again “Father.” It is a term of closeness and tenderness.
Jesus lived his life in close communion with God and he survived by the nourishment he gained by this relationship. Here again He realises that communion.
The amazing thing in all of this is that the same God that Jesus knew as Father is our Father. The one and the same. God loves us and cares for us just as he did for Jesus. That is wonderful news.
The sad thing, though is that while Jesus recognised the preciousness of his relationship with God, we often don’t. We can go days or even weeks without talking to God in any depth. We arrange our lives with all the priorities of family, work, social, church – but don’t give God any time. I’m as guilty as you are on this point. But nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus hung on that cross as an example of what our lives should be like – fully devoted to God and desperately in need of regular and deep communion with him as Father. And here is the first challenge for us – to live our lives in close communion with God as our Father.
This Easter will no doubt be fairly busy for many of you. I am pleased that you did decide to come along here this morning and pause to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. But what I want to challenge you afresh with this easter is your relationship with God. Are you in close communion with him as Father. Do you even feel as if you can call him Father. Developing any relationship takes time and intentionality. You need to plan to do things with the people you want relationships with and it is the same with God. You need to plan to spend time with him. So find some time this Easter just to get by yourself. Pull out your bible. Maybe re-read the Easter story and spend some time with your heavenly Father.
4. His final word shows Jesus had the victory – are we searching for the victory when it has already been won?
The second thing that these words show us is that Jesus was victorious. Notice that Luke describes Jesus’ words as being with a Loud voice. This was not a cry of desperation or of pain, but of victory, joy and celebration. He had emerged victorious. He had already declared that his work was finished. He had dealt with the problem of sin. Some of you aren’t quite clear on what the problem was. He it is, in as simple a way as I can put it.
We were sinners and therefore destined for judgment by God. We were like slaves – with no way of escaping our horrible destiny. But Jesus came and paid the price of our release – he redeemed us. He died so we could be forgiven and set free from the curse of judgment.
His work of redemption was finished and he was victorious. All that was left was to conquer death and that was a forgone conclusion. Jesus had won the victory and he was able to now reclaim the rightful relationship with God.
This also provides a challenge for us. For if Jesus has won the victory over the sin that enslaved us and finished the work of redemption then there is nothing more to do to be accepted by God. If that is true, why are so many people still searching for victory, redemption and acceptance. Millions of people and probably some here today, have not accepted Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. They and possibly some of you are trying to find your way to God yourself.
- Many try to find God through other religions. But God says there is only one god. Is 44:6 God declares … “I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Yet millions try to find God in images of stone, wood and metal. Searching for a way to God, when it has already been opened up through Jesus.
- Many try to impress God through doing good things or being religious. They reason that God must be just and so if they can do more good, than bad, they can win over God’s favour and he will accept them. But they have failed to recognise that for God, the pass mark is not 50% - 5 out of 10 like what we used to have in our primary school maths tests. No – for God, the pass mark is 100% - 10 out of 10 - it is perfection and none of us can achieve that. Yet millions still try. Searching for acceptance, , when it has already been granted through the forgiveness Jesus offers.
Some here today are in this boat, Jesus has done everything necessary to pay the penalty for your sins, yet you are too independent and stubborn to allow him to do that for you. Daniel and Katie, our eldest two children, are at that stage in their lives where they want to do things for themselves. A common word that comes from their mouths is “Self” “Self”. They don’t want help. And many in our world are like that today. They don’t want Jesus’ help – they want to find their own way to God. But the challenge for them is to stop trying and just accept what Jesus has already accomplished.
The victory over sin and guilt has been won – let us encourage all we come in contact with to accept Jesus’ work of redemption for us. Let us stop searching for a way to find acceptance with God – It has already been achieved.
So that is the second challenge – to accept the freedom Jesus offers.
5. His final word shows Jesus was trusting in God for his security – Are we prepared to trust our lives and eternity to God?
The third thing that this word shows us is that Jesus was resting in God’s Hands. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Why would Jesus commit his spirit into God’s hands? Because it is a safe and secure place to be.
The hands of men had been cruel and callous. Jesus had predicted this. He’d said “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him” (Matt 17:22-23). He’d said on another occasion to his disciples “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.” (Matt 20:18-19)
Jesus knew what men’s hands could do. From the moment of his arrest till when he bowed his head to die – he had suffered by men’s hands. One man has put it this way …
CRUEL HANDS: Staked the Savior, Crossed the Christ, Nailed the Nazarene, Pierced the Passover, Lacerated the Lamb, Strung-Up the Substitute.
CRUEL HANDS: Raised the Righteous, Lifted the Liberator, Displayed the Deliverer, Manifested the Master.
CRUEL HANDS: Penalized the Perfect, Punished the Pure, Damned the Dearest, Cursed the Cure, Executed the Elect, Axed the Advocate, Killed the King, Slew the Sovereign, Crucified the Christ!
Those hands of men had done their worst, but they couldn’t do any more now. He had then surrendered His body into the Hands of Men, but now he delivered His Spirit INTO THE HANDS OF GOD.
A place of safety and rest.
Many of you will know that 7 in the bible is the number of perfection – of completeness. God made the world in 6 days. On the sixth day, his work was completed. And on the 7th he sat down and rested, satisfied with its perfection. In these six words, we have a similar pattern. The sixth word is when the work was finished. It was completed and all that was left was for Jesus to rest in the knowledge that his work was done. The seventh word was a word of contentment and rest. Jesus was giving his spirit to his father for protection and rest.
It was a place of security. In John 10:27 Jesus says that “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. [Why is Jesus’ hands secure because God gave them to him] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
God’s hands were outstretched that day, like the hands of any loving parent, ready to catch their child as they fall or jump into their grasp. God’ hands were there for Jesus and they are there for us too. And here is the challenge for us. Are we willing to commit our spirits and indeed our whole lives and our eternity to God’s care.
That is a difficult thing for us in our affluent society isn’t it. We trust in our jobs and our ability to earn money. We trust in our savings and the bit we have got put away for a rainy day. We trust in our possessions – that we have the right gadgets which are reliable and will carry us through in the hour of need. We are very self reliant and as a consequence, we struggle to put our trust in God. It is not that we don’t trust Him, it is just that we trust ourselves more. But Jesus stands as an example for us. He didn’t put his time and efforts into trying to gain for his security and comfort on this earth. He trusted in his Heavenly father to meet all his needs – during his life and at his death.
The challenge here is for us to do the same. To recognise that the hands of God are more trustworthy than any job, family, amount of savings, skills or talents. They are trustworthy for this life and for the life to come. We need to be prepared to place our lives and our eternal spirits into God’s hands and leave them there knowing that they will be cared for in this life and the next. 2 Tim 1:12 says “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
6. His final word shows Jesus choosing to give up his life for you and for me. – Will we choose to give our lives to him in return?
The last thing this passage shows about Jesus is that right up to the end of his life he was in control of the situation and was choosing to die.
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Jesus spoke and then breathed out his last and gave up his life. It was not the Romans that took his life. It was Jesus who gave his life.
John 10:17& 18 says “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 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.”
In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ last breath - we read And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. The greek word here literally means he sent away or dismissed or set free his Spirit. It was a choice It was a word used of a master dismissing a servant and shows Jesus’ authority.
A.W. Pink has written …
“Two things were necessary in order to make propitiation: First, a complete satisfaction must be offered to God’s outraged Holiness and offended Justice and this, in the case of our Substitute, could only be by Him suffering the outpoured wrath of God. And this had been borne. Now there remained only the second thing, and that was for the Saviour to taste of death. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27)”
Jesus chose to go to the cross and to suffer God’s wrath for all of our sins. He chose to do that. And likewise, he chose to die and give up his life for you and me. It was an act of his own will that he died. And He did both these things for us.
And in this is the last challenge for us. Because Paul calls us to follow in our Saviour’s footsteps and choose to die also. Oh Yes we have this choice. Paul didn’t mean by this that we can live forever on this earth. Who would want to do that anyway. What Paul meant was explained in Rom 6:6 - “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. … In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” Every person will die physically but we will also all die spiritually either in this current life or in the next one. We get to choose when we die this spiritual death.
Paul calls us to choose spiritual death in this life – to die to our sins and refuse to be controlled by them. He urges us to submit our lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ. To obey Him and follow his example. He died so that we could be free from our sins, but it takes a choice on your behalf to put to death your sinful nature and accept His forgiveness.
If you are sitting here today and have never consciously chosen to kill off your old sinful nature and yield your life to Jesus, you are on dangerous ground. You have not yet accepted Jesus’ way of salvation, which means you are still independently trying to gain approval to God by yourself. This will end in judgment – your judgement and in an eternal death. You will die spiritually and it will last eternally.
Recognise today that Jesus chose to die for you on the cross so that you could have wonderful communion with God the father for eternity. That is so precious and so valuable that Jesus sacrificed his life so you could have it. He has done everything needed to achieve it and his final words from the cross were a victorious shout. You don’t have to do any thing except choose to accept what Jesus has done. Choose to put your sinful nature to death and live in the glorious freedom Jesus offers. Entrust your life into God’s hands. He will take care of you both in this life and in the one after.
If you have never done this before, I want to give you the opportunity to do this before you leave this morning. I’m going to pray a prayer of surrender. If you want to pray this after me, I encourage you to do so. Take hold of the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers and join him in saying “Father – Into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Pray: Lord I thank you today that you chose to die for me. I didn’t deserve, it. Thank you that you love me and desire to spend eternity with me. I want to spend it with you too. I know I am a sinner. I know that this offends you. I am sorry, please forgive me. I choose to put to death my old life with its selfish ambitions. From this day on, I want to follow you. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and start making the changes I need. Amen.
