“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46)
Death Transformed
March 30, 2012 (Friday)
Jesus made seven statements while on the Cross. Today’s blog is devoted to the seventh and last statement, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
There was a silence like no other. All day long confusion, bedlam and senseless noise had reigned. Now, as Jesus breathes his last, the world about him is quiet. The soldiers stand aside. Their work is done. The unruly crowd of spectators sees nothing else happening. The sound of the hammers striking the spikes is but a memory. The screams of the mob, caught up in the moments of frenzy, are no longer being heard. There is a deathly silence at Calvary. Jesus speaks. Listen. He’s praying again: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Then he bowed his head and died.
It’s over. Nothing remains to be done except bury the body. With loving hands, his friends took down his body, hastily prepared it for burial before the deadline of sunset, and placed it in a borrowed tomb. The Sabbath began, and everyone went home. A deathly stillness prevailed throughout the land.
What just happened? Jesus went to his Father in Heaven. Twice on the cross he told us where he was going–to Paradise, to the Father. His physical body entered the realm of the dead (Hades), but his spirit went to the Father on high.
Early Sunday morning, as soon as the light dawned, the women came to the tomb to complete the process of preparation that had been cut short by his hasty burial. On the way, they discussed the great stone that blocked the doorway of the tomb. “Who will roll it away?” they asked each other. When they arrived, however, they discovered the stone had already been rolled away and the body was gone. In its place, an angel announced, “He is not here. He is risen, as he said.”
Make no mistake. Jesus really died. And in his death he set an example for all of us. He faced death with confidence and faith. With courage. Without fear. We are now enabled to do the same. He said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” Death, which had been fearful, was robbed of its sting by Jesus’ victory over it, and it now has a new meaning. It is no longer a dead end, with emptiness and despair awaiting us on the other side; it is now a doorway into the very presence of God. Through Christ, we no longer fear death. He has won the victory over “the last enemy” for himself and for all who believe in Him as their Savior and Lord. Read about it in 1Corinthians 15:51-57 in The Message Translation.
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Blogs On Each of the Seven Statements (click on each to read it):
1. Divine Forgiveness
2. Divine Promises
3. Divine Love
4. Divine Sacrifice
5. Divine Suffering
6. Divine Accomplishment
7. Divine Acceptance
Jesus made seven statements while on the Cross. Today’s blog is devoted to the seventh and last statement, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).There was a silence like no other. All day long confusion, bedlam and senseless noise had reigned. Now, as Jesus breathes his last, the world about him is quiet. The soldiers stand aside. Their work is done. The unruly crowd of spectators sees nothing else happening. The sound of the hammers striking the spikes is but a memory. The screams of the mob, caught up in the moments of frenzy, are no longer being heard. There is a deathly silence at Calvary. Jesus speaks. Listen. He’s praying again: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Then he bowed his head and died.
It’s over. Nothing remains to be done except bury the body. With loving hands, his friends took down his body, hastily prepared it for burial before the deadline of sunset, and placed it in a borrowed tomb. The Sabbath began, and everyone went home. A deathly stillness prevailed throughout the land.
What just happened? Jesus went to his Father in Heaven. Twice on the cross he told us where he was going–to Paradise, to the Father. His physical body entered the realm of the dead (Hades), but his spirit went to the Father on high.
Early Sunday morning, as soon as the light dawned, the women came to the tomb to complete the process of preparation that had been cut short by his hasty burial. On the way, they discussed the great stone that blocked the doorway of the tomb. “Who will roll it away?” they asked each other. When they arrived, however, they discovered the stone had already been rolled away and the body was gone. In its place, an angel announced, “He is not here. He is risen, as he said.”
Make no mistake. Jesus really died. And in his death he set an example for all of us. He faced death with confidence and faith. With courage. Without fear. We are now enabled to do the same. He said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” Death, which had been fearful, was robbed of its sting by Jesus’ victory over it, and it now has a new meaning. It is no longer a dead end, with emptiness and despair awaiting us on the other side; it is now a doorway into the very presence of God. Through Christ, we no longer fear death. He has won the victory over “the last enemy” for himself and for all who believe in Him as their Savior and Lord. Read about it in 1Corinthians 15:51-57 in The Message Translation.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Blogs On Each of the Seven Statements (click on each to read it):
1. Divine Forgiveness
2. Divine Promises
3. Divine Love
4. Divine Sacrifice
5. Divine Suffering
6. Divine Accomplishment
7. Divine Acceptance