Luke 23, John 18-19

I have to wonder if this is his “closing argument” to the rulers who had said, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:43).

Jesus was not resigning himself to the inevitable but showing absolute trust and confidence in the Father. William Barclay had this to say about Jesus’ last words: “Jesus died with a prayer on his lips. ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ That is Psalms 31:5 with one word added—’Father.’ That verse was the prayer every Jewish mother taught her child to say last thing at night. Just as we were taught, maybe, to say, ‘This night I lay me down to sleep,” so the Jewish mother taught her child to say, before the threatening dark came down, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” Jesus made it even more lovely for he began it with the word Father. Even on a cross Jesus died like a child falling asleep in his father’s arms.”

If the Holy Spirit through Peter had not made a connection between Christ’s suffering and ours, I would not dream of doing so, but he did (1 Peter 2:21-25).
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Few Christians are called to make the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom, but all are called to total commitment (Romans 12:1-2). “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

CONNECTIONS

1. If we are not committed to Christ in life, will it do any good to say, as we draw our last breath, “Into your hands I commit my spirit’?

2. Can you sing with the Statler Brothers?

I believe He died for me
So I believe I’ll live for Him
I may not do it right
But I’m gonna try