Luke 23:46 

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

For Meditation

Nothing more to say. Sometimes, that’s how it feels with the Passion story. Everything that must be said has already been said, in many ways. We have cried through some, while others have incited a sense of wonder in us. Some have chuckled us, while others have been rather baffling. Many of us have sworn, “I would never have done that” to some of the stories. Yet, we find ourselves doing worse than them. How humbling!

The fact is, the road to the cross is filled with so much drama, treachery, dishonesty, hypocrisy, wickedness, and human selfishness. But, that’s the beauty of the tapestry of God’s redemptive grace. That’s why they must be retold until He comes again.

For today, my heart is latched on the seventh and final words of our Lord on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With this, He gave up the spirit (Lk. 23:46). It is fitting, because it closes the story of the ultimate sacrifice for the souls of mankind. In a play, this would have drawn the curtain on the story. Case closed! Everyone to their homes. But not in this story. It’s rather the opposite.

In the story of the cross of Calvary, the curtain opens at the end of the sacrifice. The fog is driven away. The blindness is dealt with. The hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders ceases. Reality is revealed.

Jesus is not a weakling. He came to the earth with a mission. He was given and driven with a passion for the souls of humanity. God’s ways are always baffling. No wonder, nobody understood His passion. Not even His chosen and closest friends. In the end, they all went away disappointed, while His enemies congratulated themselves. But they were in for the surprise of their lives.

The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom when He breathed His last. A way has opened into the Holy of Holies through His body to all who would believe in Him. Sin has been atoned for. Death has lost its sting on humanity. God has been propitiated. The repentant sinner has been offered the means of reconciliation to God, never again to be held in slavery to the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15). Hell is shaken. Satan is dumbfounded. In three days’ time, they will struggle to confuse people in their bid to cover the truth. A fat lie would be told with a bribe. “His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep” (Matt. 28).

But, for you who hear the story of the Cross of Calvary today, know your hour of redemption. Luke tells us about three responses from those who witnessed the death of Christ.

The centurion confessed that He was a righteous man. The Jews beat their breast and went away. Those who knew Him, stood at a distance and took it in with sorrow (47-49).

But, you! What is your response to Calvary; for you know about the empty tomb, don’t you?

May I suggest a total surrender with thanksgiving and praise to your Savior and Lord; and may I suggest you share this joy with others still in darkness and gripped with the fear of death – a worthy response to the King and Savior forever, amen!

Happy Good Friday everyone!

Shalom