into your hands

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It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. [Luke 23-44-49 ESV]

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This last utterance from the cross reminds me of these words that Jesus once said:

I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

Even at this very last moment of his life we are reminded.
The son of God was not a victim of circumstances or of man's evil plans.
At any point Jesus could have chose another path for his life.

Yet love compelled him to stay the course and freely offer his life for us.
Love compelled him to stay committed to the words he prayed in the garden.
"Not my will but thine be done".

And since that final moment we have all been beating our breasts.
Like the centurion, and those who watched at a distance.
We have all been wondering how this could have happened to an innocent man.

Perhaps it could have happened no other way?
Maybe the whole spectacle took place to reveal the darkness of man.
And the brilliant light of God's one and only Son?

This reminds me of how we daily need to place our lives into divine hands.
When things seem so crazy and out of control we need to release control.
As we let go we commit ourselves again and trust the hands of God.

Father, into your hands I commit my body, my strength, my soul, my life and my spirit.

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... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.

It is Finished!

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He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. [John 19:30 NASB]

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The words “It is finished” are translated from one Greek word: “tetelestai”. The word is an accounting term used in Jesus' times to indicate something that was “Paid in Full”. When I consider this aspect of the cross I think of the word redemption. Jesus death redeemed us and paid our debt in full.

The idea of being redeemed speaks of a debt that was owed and is now forgiven, or paid in full. It reminds me of a phrase in the Lord's prayer that is often translated "forgive us our debts". It begs the question: "What was the human debt that was forgiven on the cross?" I think that this debt is the one we have to love both our creator and his creation. We are created to love and we trespass when we do not love.

Some see this word, “tetelestai”, from an accountant's transnational perspective. I think that we miss the message when we reduce it to those terms. Jesus' death was the ultimate act of love. As his divine blood flowed down from the cross he was showing us how to love. He was showing us what love really looks like. When he died his mission of love was finished. Our debt of love was paid in full by his redeeming love.

Lord help me to love as I remember the price love paid for my redemption.

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... this devotion is on the last words of Christ.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

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Has there ever been a more surreal death in all of history? Lean into this with me if you can. For hours, in the middle of the day, darkness reigned over the earth. The atmosphere was tenuous and people were certainly on edge. Then from the cross a scream penetrated the darkness. It was God's own son crying out with words of being forsaken. Oh my! Small wonder that some thought he was calling out for Elijah. Who would have ever thought the Messiah, the son of God, would feel forsaken and say such a thing.

This short statement so encourages me. Many times I have felt forsaken by God. When my first wife died at 43 my soul cried out with words too painful to say out loud. In hospital rooms and rehab facilities I have felt so alone and forsaken. To know that Jesus experienced like feelings of being forsaken gives me courage to hope again. To know that my Lord knows what it is like to feel forsaken gives me renewed energy to pray. The son of God could have kept silent but broke the silence so that we would know that he understands us at the deepest of levels of our pain and despair. Who is like this Messiah? Who is like Jesus?

My God. My God. Thank you for suffering the pain of feeling forsaken.

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... this devotion is on the last words of Christ.

I Thirst

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After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.

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These words are the first that Jesus speaks to us that reminds us that he was fully human. So far he has spoken divine words of forgiveness, assurance and care to those around him. John, the gospel writer, seems to indicate that Jesus said “I thirst” to simply fulfill this Messianic prophecy from Psalm 69:

“They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.”

His statement caused wine vinegar to be given to him thereby fulfilling the prophecy. Yet, I think that the message from these words is much deeper than a mechanical fulfillment of prophecy. In these words we see into his sufferings and get a glimpse into the normalcy of his death. Like so many others who have died Jesus body suffers dehydration and he becomes thirsty as his body enters it's final stages.

These final words remind us also that Jesus is the giver of living water and his blood is representative of what we remember when we drink of the cup at communion. His words also remind us that he calls all who thirst spiritually to follow after him. He is the only one who can satisfy us and quench our soul. He is the only one who has suffered and died to do so.

My soul thirsts and aches after you Lord. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

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... this devotion is on the last words of Christ.

Behold, your son! ... Behold, your mother!

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So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

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It is so easy to get wrapped up in all of the hoopla that is surrounding Jesus as he suffers on the cross and forget that one is watching him with a broken heart. What would it have been like to have been Mary? Can you even imagine watching your son being treated in such a vile fashion? What a nightmarish experience this must have been for Mary as she watched her beloved son, who has done absolutely nothing wrong, be nailed to the cross. Words escape me as I try to come to grips with her feelings.

Yet another is also watching with a broken heart. John, the writer of the gospel, who describes himself as "the disciple whom he loved", is standing next to Jesus' mom. He too cannot believe what he is seeing. His soul has been pierced and hope seems so far. To these two hurting souls Jesus speaks sweet words calling them into a family relationship. With these words Christ is speaking to us about finding comfort in each other when life seems out of control. In a sense we are God's familial gifts to each other.

Lord, give me an open heart for your family. Help us to share our pain with each other.

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... this devotion is on the last words of Christ.

Today you will be with me in Paradise

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One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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Two condemned men are watching Jesus. These two are also nailed to crosses. Both have joined in with the crowd in their mocking of Christ. Both have heard Jesus pray and offer forgiveness to those who mock. To those who drove the nails. To those who gamble for his robe. One hears him forgive and continues to mock him - perhaps he saw forgiveness as a sign of weakness? Yet the other responds differently and rebukes the other thief. Two thieves. Two men dying. Two different reactions.

What follows is truly amazing. Nailed to a cross a thief cries out for the forgiveness that Jesus offered. The mocker has been transformed by Christ's words of forgiveness and now defends him to the other thief. And all the while Jesus is listening. Not only to what the man says but to the faith that comes from his heart. Then, in an amazing mix of boldness and desperation, the thief cries out to Jesus. And, oh my, Jesus' response to him is so unexpected. So amazing. So divine. As he is dying he offers hope to everyone.

I am in awe of your forgiveness Lord. Help me to forgive as I am forgiven.

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... this devotion is on the last words of Christ.