(Luke 23:46 KJV) 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.
This morning we continue our “Passion Week” series. Tomorrow is the day many call “Good Friday” and it is the day we set apart to remember Jesus’ death on the cross. We have looked at a few of the things Jesus said while He was on the cross, this morning we will at the final words He uttered before His death. Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled many prophecies (as we have already discussed) and His life overall reiterates to me the Sovereignty of God. Jesus endured the mock trials, He pained through the 39 lashes with a cat of nine tails, He did not fight back when they put a hood over His head and slapped Him repeatedly, telling Him to divinely say who has hitting Him. Jesus did not say a Word as they made a mockery of His deity by putting a crown of thorns on His head and an inscription on the cross that read “King of the Jews,” when it was the Jews who were responsible for His crucifixion.
If all of this had not been enough, they took His battered and bruised body and nailed it to the cross. They had already prepared the hole for the cross to sit in. They then took the cross, with Jesus’ body nailed to it, and lifted it up. Put yourself there for a moment. Imagine you were at the foot of the cross watching this happen. The weight is now painfully shifting between His upper and lower body. They then locate the prepared hole and let the cross drop into it, rattling Jesus’ bones and shooting sharp pain through His entire body as the cross fell into place. Jesus then attempts to support His body with His legs, but the position of His nailed feet makes it almost impossible. He tries to pull Himself up with His arms, but His nailed hands make this excruciatingly painful. To add insult to injury, they hang Jesus between two thieves. While this is going on the devil and his hellish imps are rejoicing. They are having a party in hell thinking that they are about to win their ultimate victory. Jesus had already spoken six sayings from the cross, the sixth one being “It is finished.” God is so much a God of order that there was order, even in Jesus’ death. God created the earth and He “finished” His work with the creation of man on the sixth day. On the seventh day He rested. Jesus’ seventh cry would translate Him from the cross into God’s rest. With that Jesus said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” and just like that, Jesus gave up the ghost. I could really go on for a while about this, but let’s focus on two golden nuggets this morning that will apply to our lives:
1. Jesus gave up His life: Until the very end, ’till the final cry, Jesus was still in control. He willingly gave up His life. At any point, Jesus could have called on a host of angels to strike down His accusers and persecutors, but He restrained Himself and endured this horrible death because of our sin. Jesus was and still is in control. Remember that the next time you are facing a challenge. You may face trials, but God is still God. You will have to endure tribulation and challenge in this world, but that does not negate the power of God; it actually gives you an opportunity to tap into it. God has equipped, enabled, and empowered you to live a victorious life in the earth. So no matter what you face, never give up, cave in, or quit!
2. The devil lost that day: The foolish devil thought he was destroying Jesus, but he actually helped give Jesus the ultimate victory. When the first drop of blood hit the ground it sealed satan’s fate forever. Jesus went down into hell during those three nights and three days and He took the keys to hell and the grave with Him. Jesus, like Joseph, could say that the devil meant it for evil, but the Father turned it around for good. Guess what? You can say the same. The more the enemy comes up against you, the stronger you get! If satan were smarter he would leave you alone. So no matter what you are facing this morning, you can take it, God trusts you with it, and you will come through it!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Jesus this morning and every day. I never cease to give You the praise for what Jesus did for me. He willingly endured the pain the cross. While pain was shooting through His body, Jesus was able to endure it, because He was looking forward 2,000 years and He could see my face. Jesus died in my place and I will never forget it. Jesus took my place on the cross, so now I take His place in the earth. He substituted His life for me, so now I substitute my life for His. I become the Jesus that people need to see, hear, and come in contact with. I pray for the sick, I encourage the discouraged, I uplift the downtrodden, and I come up against the powers of darkness. I will honor Jesus’ sacrifice today and every day, by being a conduit of His light and love in the earth. And I will never allow a challenge, obstacle, or roadblock to cause me to quit! If Jesus did not quit, then neither will I! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
