In The Hands of a Glorious God
Scripture Reference: Luke 23:46
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Introduction
His first word, forgiveness – He focused outward
His second word, salvation – He focused sideward
His third word, affection – He focused parent-ward
His fourth word, anguish – He focused upward
His fifth word, suffering – He focused inward
His sixth word, victory – He focused backwards and forwards
And now the seventh and final word, contentment – He focuses heavenward.
Into thy hands…whose hands and what kind of hands, is the question before us. He was not talking about the hands that Satan had referenced in Matthew’s gospel when he stated:
“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
His cry was not for the hands of men. For Prior to this moment, His life was in the hands of men. Not because they took it but because He gave it.
Matthew 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Matthew 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Matthew 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands
This is a cry of transition. Not into the hands of angels, not into the hands of men, not into the hands of sinners, but His spirit committed into the hands of the Father.
The Father, the hands, the spirit are the three elements up for review.
I. The Father
He was not addressing the father that merely knew best, but was the best. We have Christ to thank for introducing us to the side of God that had not been known prior to His coming in the flesh.
Prior to His coming they only knew God as holy, but never as Father.
They only knew God as just, but never as Father.
They only knew God who demanded full obedience of the law, but never as Father.
They only knew God who spoke of blessings and curses, but never as Father.
They only knew God as powerful, but never as Father.
But when Jesus came along He introduced to them and to us an intimacy with a God who seemed distant yet desire to be close.
He told His earthly parents at twelve that He was about His Father’s business.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly
Matthew 6:8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.
He speaks of the Father seventeen times in the Sermon on the Mount and fifty-one times between John chapter 14 and 17.
And now because of Christ, Paul validates for us our connection in Galatians 4:6,
“To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, <
Yes, he has identity with the angels. Yes, He has identity with men. But He knows intimacy with the Father.
His Father our Father. His first word, Father…His final word, Father.
How unspeakably precious that I can look up to the great and living God and say, “Father,” my Father! What comfort contained in that title. God is my Father.
Oh, God, I want to stay there for just a little while longer, but I have to move on.
II. The Hands
Father, into thy hands…
What hands? Not the hands made up of many small bones known as carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges - in addition to two major nerves, the Median and Ulnar.
Not the hands composed of veins, arteries, blood vessels, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other tissue.
Not the hands that have intricate grouping of cells that works with the rest of the body to relay electrical impulses from the brain to the hands and fingers - in order to accomplish the "simple" task of turning the next page in my notes or pointing my finger.
But the Father hands:
Psalm 95:4-5 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Joshua 4:24a That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty.
And there should be no surprise on the part of the hearers today from the request.
The Savior committed His spirit into the hands of His Father in death, because it had been in the Father’s hands all through His life.
He knew about those hands and reminds us: John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Never again will He be in “the hands of men.” Never again will He suffer shame. Never again will He be at the mercy of the wicked.
Into the hands of the Father He commits Himself, and now the Father will look after His interests.
III. The Spirit
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…not the spirit found in a bottle Hennessy, Vodka, Gin, Rum, or Wild Irish Rose.
Not the spirit found at a séance or a tarot card reading rendition, but the spirit in the body that walked this earth for 33 years, sinless, perfect, and undefiled.
This is proof that His life wasn’t taken, but His life was given. At our death we have only some measure of confidence, but at His death He has all confidence.
With “wicked hands” they crucified Him. Man has done his worst. The Cross has been endured: the appointed work is finished.
Voluntarily He delivered Himself into the hands of sinners, and now, voluntarily He delivers His spirit into the hands of the Father.
I know who you are in your husband’s hands on a Friday night…
I know who you are in your wife’s hands on a shopping trip…
I know who you are in your parent’s hands on a Sunday morning…
I know who you are in your grandbabies hands…
I know who you are in your employer’s hands…
I know who you are in your pastor’s hands…
But are you committed to the Father’s hands? It was not Father, take care of my body, but I dismiss --- as a King dismisses his servant --- I dismiss my spirit into your hands.
Conclusion
A basketball in my hands is a brick and an airball, but in Michael Jordan’s hand it is six championships, several scoring titles, and many MVP’s.
A golf club in my hands is a gravedigger and a ball slicer, but in Tiger Wood’s hands it is a Master’s championship.
A football in my hand is a fumble and a miss, but in Brett Farve’s hands it is a Super Bowl touchdown.
A steering wheel in my is a speeding ticket, but in Jeff Gordon’s hands it is NASCAR’s finest race.
A dollar in my hand is equal to the bills of yesterday, but in Oprah’s hands it is equal to one billion on the account.
A pen and paper in my hand is just a way to take notes, but in Bruce Wilkerson’s hands it is a New York Times bestseller, “The Prayer of Jabez”
A knife in my hand is just one way to spread butter, but in Ben Carson’s hand it is another way separate two lives.
A soul in my hand may result in a missed opportunity, but in God’s hands…
It can be saved…
It can be redeemed…
It can be secured…
It can be looked over and looked after…
It is blessed assurance…
