HE TRUSTED GOD WITH HIS SPIRIT

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/06/23

As Jesus nears the end of His agony, we meditate on the sixth statement from the cross: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

This cry was not the cry of defeat, but the cry of victory. It was not the cry of one conquered by death, but of one conquering death. It was not the cry of a victim of circumstances, but of one in control of His circumstances.

As a commander would dismiss a servant from his presence, Jesus dismissed His own Spirit and went to be with God the Father, speaking the words of Psalm 31:5: “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

When the centurion at the cross witnessed Jesus’ victorious cry, the officer recognized the difference between Jesus and every other dying man he had seen. It was in this moment that he said, “Surely this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for conquering death. Thank You for Your words that remind us You were not a victim but the one in control. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.