Into Your Hands

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

— Luke 23:46

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Your final words from the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." As your cry faded, a new reality had begun. Humanity's sin had been dealt its final blow. This moment was punctuated by the curtain of the Temple being torn in two from top to bottom, indicating that God had done the tearing. There was no longer any separation between God and man. The earth shook and the rocks split. The sun stopped shining as darkness shrouded the whole land. Nature itself was shaken by the death of the Son of God. The Roman centurion watching what had happened, and those with him, praised God and said, "Surely he was the Son of God."

And in that moment, your spirit left to join the Father. Your body now hung lifeless, bloodied, shredded by the scourging, lacerated by the cat-o-nine tails. To say you were bruised and beaten does not begin to describe the miserable sight onlookers beheld. The stench of death hung in the late afternoon heat as the people who had gathered to witness your horrific execution beat their chests and crept away. Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, was dead. Confused and distraught disciples stood at a distance unable to grasp that their Rabbi was gone and the messianic hope of Israel had perished. Jesus, our Jesus, our friend, our teacher, our Lord, was dead.

Gracious Lord Jesus, from this side of the empty tomb I know what Your disciples did not. But there is no empty tomb without the cross. We can't have the full joy of Sunday without the deep agony of Friday. Lord, for the moments when I am desperate to avoid my pain and pursue only victory, may I remember this moment. You are with us in our pain. There is no pain upon this earth or in this life which You have not felt, which You have not borne. Even in the midst of my pain, I can boldly proclaim, "Surely You are the Son of God."

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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