Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

Luke 23:44-24:12

John 10:14-18- I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The temple curtain is torn

The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place

The Most Holy place was the place where the glory of the Lord dwelt in the midst of His people

The Ark of the Covenant dwelt there

The High Priest was only allowed to go in once per year to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, went in when and how they shouldn’t have, and God struck them down

But now, that separating curtain was torn from top to bottom

This was to indicate and symbolize that the way to the presence of God was now opened through Christ

We no longer need a High Priest to go into the Most Holy Place once per year to make sacrifices for us, but we have an eternal High Priest who gave Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice and always lives to make intercession for us

We have access with boldness and confidence

Because of Jesus, we can come to God boldly and confidently

Not confidence in ourselves, but in Christ who died

Hebrews 10:19-20- Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Have you come to Him to have your hearts and conscience sprinkled clean by His blood?

I say to you what Paul boldly proclaims in Acts 13:

Acts 13:38-39- Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed[c] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Do you act with confidence before God because of Christ?

In prayer, do you boldly come to Him knowing you have access to the throne of grace through Christ?

Do you come to Him with confidence, not because of yourself, but because you know the preciousness of the blood that made you His beloved child

But how does this fit with Jesus final words? (verse 46)

Jesus commends Himself to His Father

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

This is a quotation from Psalm 31

Psalm 31:5- Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Stephen cries the same thing as he is stoned to death

Acts 7:59- And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Let us entrust ourselves to our faithful God

Let the broader context of Psalm 31 give us insight and help

Psalm 31:1-5- Bible

Christ is our perfect example, even as He is our perfect Savior

1 Peter 2:21-25- For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Do you entrust yourself to Him, both in life and in death?

Or are you paralyzed by worries and anxieties?

If He gave His life to save you, how much more will He care for you in all things?

Jesus breathes His last

His death changed everything

For Israel

For humanity

For the centurion

For you, Christian

For many more, until He comes again

He lives!

The women found His tomb empty!

We celebrate this morning because there is no tomb of Jesus

It was borrowed, and now He reigns in heaven

Peter goes home, marveling

Do you marvel at Jesus?

Do you marvel at His love and grace poured out on the cross?

Do you marvel in His tender unfailing care for you?

Marvel at Him, delight in Him, rest yourself in Him today