Reading: Luke chapter 23 verse 36.
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last”.
In this series of studies:
• We are considering the seven statements of Jesus from the cross:
• These statements are very important to us:
• Not only because of the Person who spoke them;
• But, also because of the place where they were said.
• Remember the context that these great words were spoken in;
• It was when our Jesus was doing His greatest work on earth,
Quote:
“These seven last words from the cross are windows that enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God.”
• This morning we are looking at the sixth statement that Jesus made on the cross;
• “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
• These are the last words which Jesus spoke from the cross:
• In all he spoke seven times,
To both Jewish people (and of cause to anyone who studies the Bible);
• Seven is a number which has special significance.
• It was associated with perfection or completion.
Seven was also to Jewish people a number which signified rest:
• It was associated with the seventh day of creation, when God rested,
• And of course with the Sabbath day.
• In creation the sixth day was the day on which God finished his work.
• We noted last W&W on the cross the sixth cry was the triumphant cry, 'Finished'.
Now this seventh cry is a cry of rest;
• After his ordeal in accomplishing the amazing feat of the world's redemption.
• Jesus commended himself into the arms of his Father, that he might rest there;
4 THINGS TO NOTE CONCERNING THIS LAST STATEMENT OF JESUS:
(1). He Died Actually.
• First of all, He died actually.
• His death was not an illusion; He actually died.
• When we studied his cry; “I thirst”.
• We looked at the fact Jesus had a real human body,
• That he experienced all that it means to be human;
• He had a complete human nature (although he was sinless).
• He knew what it was to grow up; He knew what it was to eat, drink and sleep.
• And He knew what it was to die - He died actually.
(1). The Roman view:
• John in his gospel records important information;
• Regarding how that the officials checked very carefully to be sure that Jesus had died.
• He was a high profile celebrity figure;
• They would make sure he got extra attention, that nothing would go unmissed.
Quote: John chapter 19 verse 32-33:
“So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs”
• These Roman soldiers were experienced executioners;
• They knew a dead victim when they saw one.
• From the statement of the soldiers we can say;
• The official evidence of the Roman Empire was that Jesus actually had died.
(2). The gospel writers:
The evidence of the gospel writers is that He actually died.
• He did not swoon on the cross and then,
• When he was put into the cool tomb, revive and pretend it was a resurrection.
• That kind of foolish religious thinking went out a long time ago.
• The Lord Jesus Christ died actually; He tasted death for every person.
• In the Bible the word "death" is applied to believers very infrequently.
• Normally it is called "sleep."
• e.g. Lazarus “has fallen asleep”
• e.g. Christians who die are those who "sleep in Jesus" (I Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 14).
But notice when Jesus died:
• It is not referred to as sleep - it was referred to as death!
• He tasted the full experience of death.
(3). The medical record.
John chapter 19 verses 32-34:
32”So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. 33When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. 34One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.
• This ‘blood and water’ must have collected in one of the body cavities of Jesus:
• Medical experts tell us that the blood of animals and humans;
• Which are tortured to death does not clot.
• This is due to circulating anti-clotting chemicals called ‘fibrinolysins’).
• When blood is left to stand,
• It separates into the red cells which drop to the bottom, leaving the clear plasma above.
• There seems to be no other reasonable explanation of what John saw,
• Other than that the spear pierced a large cavity;
• Which had filled up with blood just before Jesus died;
• And that this blood had separated into the red cells and plasma.
• It would take at least half an hour after death for this separation to occur.
• It could not have occurred if Jesus had swooned.
(2). He Died Confidently (Luke chapter 23 verse 46).
"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit"
(1). The Father's Presence.
• Jesus died confidently because He had the Father's presence.
• He said, "Father."
• Three times on the cross,
• When Jesus was addressed God, his first word was "Father”.
Throughout the life of Jesus the word ‘Father’ was on his lips:
(a).
• When He was 12 years old, He said,
• "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke chapter 2 verse 49).
(b).
• In the Sermon on the Mount,
• He used the word "Father" more than 15 times.
(c).
• John in his gospel, for example chapter 5;
• It was this use of the word ‘Father’ for God that really annoyed the Pharisees.
(d).
• In the upper room discourse and in His high-priestly prayer (John 17)
• Jesus talked about the Father many times.
Conclusion:
• Jesus died confidently;
• Because he had the Father's presence with him!
(2). The Father's Promise
• He died confidently because He had the Father's promise.
• All three of the prayers of Jesus from the cross are tied to Scripture.
(a).
• When Jesus prayed (Luke ch 23 vs 34); "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"
• He was fulfilling Isaiah 53:12:
(b).
• When He cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" (Matthew ch 27 vs 46),
• He was quoting Psalm 22 verse 1.
(c).
• When He said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke ch 23 vs 46),
• He fulfilled Psalm 31 verse 5.
Throughout his life:
• Jesus lived by God's Word,
• And if you live by God's Word, you can die by God's Word!
(3). The Father's Protection:
• Third, He had the Father's protection.
• "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke chapter 23 verse 46).
• Jesus had predicted to his To His weary disciples in the garden of Gethsemane
• (Matthew chapter 26 verses 45-46):
• That he was: "going to be delivered into the hands of sinners."
• And that prediction came true!
Ill:
• For many hours Jesus had been in the hands of sinners.
• The hands of sinners took hold of Him and bound Him.
• The hands of sinners shoved Him.
• The hands of sinners lacerated His back.
• The hands of sinners stripped Him.
• The hands of sinners put a crown of thorns upon His head.
• The hands of sinners put nails through his hands and his feet.
• The hands of sinners lifted him up to die.
• But there came a time for Jesus;
• When the hands of sinful men can do nothing more .
But when He came to the conclusion of His work:
• Jesus Christ was no longer in the hands of sinners;
• He was in the Father's hands.
• He had voluntarily gave Himself into the hands of sinners;
• Now He voluntarily gives Himself into the hands of God
(4). He Died Willingly
• In one sense, our Lord was killed.
• Peter on the day of Pentecost said (Acts chapter 2 verse 23),
• “You, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
• “You crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men”.
But in another sense, Jesus was not killed, for He willingly laid down His life:
He said in John chapter 10 verses 17-18:
17”The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again. 18No 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.”
Jesus Christ died willingly:
• This is an amazing thing!
• No Old Testament sacrifice ever died willingly.
• No lamb, goat or sheep ever willingly gave its life.
• They dies in ignorance or against their will.
• But Jesus (God’s perfect sacrifice);
• Willingly laid down His life for us.
The whole episode of the cross shows how in control he was:
• Before Jesus Christ laid down His life, He forgave His enemies.
• Before He laid down His life, He gave salvation to a repenting" thief.
• Before He laid down His life, He cared for His mother.
• Before He laid down His life, He finished the work God gave Him to do.
• No human knows how long God is going to permit us to live.
• Every day we have, every minute we have, is a gift of His grace.
• But Jesus was different in his death!
• He would not die until all things had been accomplished!
Notice:
• He cried out, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit"
• (Luke chapter 23 verse 46).
• Interestingly, none of the New Testament writers are content to simply say;
• That Jesus died; they all say that His spirit went into the hands of God.
• They want us to understand that His death was not the end;
• But rather, the beginning of a new relationship.
For all people their life is taken from them:
• Suicide victims may determine their own life span;
• But all they do is rob them of the life-span God wants them to enjoy.
• For everyone else;
• Our life is taken from us.
• But not so with Jesus.
• He determined the very moment he would die – he dismissed his own spirit!
In every sense of the word Jesus Christ accomplished the work that God gave Him to do:
• And when He gave up His spirit,
• Several miracles took place.
(1). Veil (Matthew chapter 27 verse 51):
• The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom,
• Symbolising that God had opened the way into the Holy of Holies.
(2). Opened Graves (Matthew chapter 27 verse 52):
• Some graves were opened, and some of the saints were resurrected.
• Symbolising that Jesus Christ is victorious over death.
(3). Earthquake (Matthew chapter 27 verse 51):
• There was even an earthquake that shook the area!
• Symbolising or reminding us;
• Of the earthquake at Mount Sinai;
• When God came down and gave the Law (Exodus chapter 19 verse 18).
• But this earthquake did not announce the terror of the Law.
• It announced the fulfilment of the Law!
Jesus Christ died as the victorious, conqueror of sin, death and hell!
• He died actually,
• He died confidently,
• He died willingly,
• And He died victoriously.
