And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost
Luke 23:46, KJV
This is seventh and the last cry from the Cross and took place about 3:00 pm in the afternoon. The Jewish mothers taught this prayer to their children before going to bed. “Father! Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” After that their children peacefully slip into the lap of sleep. I commend my soul. Lord receive my spirit.
Then Jesus cried with a loud voice, Father!
For almost six hours Jesus hung on the cross. The previous night he was moved to different courts. He was very badly beaten. He received lashes; there was a lot of bleeding. Then he was crucified and he lost more blood. Nearly six hours the Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross. Hunger, thirst; waking up from the previous night he received lashes; now he was badly broken by the crucifixion. Before dying, the Lord Jesus Christ cried with a loud voice and said, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” I commend my soul.
1. A loud voice.
This was the call and voice of victory. Generally now after the torture His voice should have been very slow and halting, but now in this voice there was zeal, passion, enthusiasm and victory. The work for which My Father sent Me has been accomplished… that is why there was a sense of victory in His cry. The Lord Jesus Christ still had his full senses.
2. The Lord Jesus Christ has all His senses.
Although going through so much pain and agony, our Lord Jesus Christ retained His senses. He had seven Cries from the Cross, all clearly alert. His heavenly Father was granting Him strength and encouragement so that He might be able to accomplish His mission for sinful mankind. The previous night he had experienced a lot of pain, agony, nervousness, anxiety, and restlessness in the Garden of Gethsemane:
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done’…. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:41-42, 44
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him (v. 43).
The Lord Jesus Christ was continuously receiving divine assistance or help. He was fully conscious. Most criminals, while hanging on a cross, after sometime feel very weak, feeble, fragile, and tired. Their voices fade, mental abilities decline and deteriorate. Contrary to this, the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ was very strong, and He was fully conscious. The Lord Jesus Christ cried with a loud voice, “Father!”
3. Father!
The Lord Jesus Christ called God His Father. You are My father, I am Your Son. You have sent Me into this world that I may finish Your work. On the occasion of His baptism, a voice came from heaven. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Psalm.
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mathew 3:17
When Jesus was on the mount of transfiguration, His countenance was transformed.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him’.
Matthew 17:5
“Into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
4. Into thy hands I commend my spirit:
The Hebrews translation means; giving into your hands. In Greek it means; to give something to a powerful, influential person that he may protect it or take care of it.
I give my spirit into your hands with my free will. I give voluntarily.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:17-18
There is a picture of a strong relationship; the relationship of the Father and Son. It is very essential to have a strong relationship so this relation may continue, otherwise relationships can become very weak.
5. Joyfully into Thy hands I commend My Spirit:
I commend My Spirit into Thy hands without fear, force, murmuring or grumbling. I know that You will keep it.
Oh God, I totally, completely commend My Spirit into Your hands.
Father! I know that You will entirely keep Me; protect Me. You provide total peace, comfort and contentment. You give everlasting joy.
Into thy hands, I commend My Spirit.
The Hand… it is a symbol of authority and power.
Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
Psalm 89:13
With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
Psalm 89:21
A saving hand;
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Psalm 138:7
Father Into thy hands I commend my spirit:
At the present time into your hands I commend my soul.
At the present time into your hands I commend myself. Lord receive my spirit.
He is not saying that in the future into your hands I will commend my spirit, but right now, right at the moment.
Many people procrastinate, delay commending themselves into the hands of God, or they talk about a future time and then keep quiet. This commending is at the present time, that precise moment.
Our spirit is more precious than our body.
God cares for our spirit. His Son is also commending His Spirit to his divine Father. Our spirit is immortal, our bodies are mortal. Our spirit is eternal, our body is temporal.
Do we more care for our spirit, or for our body?
Mostly we do everything for our body and we give very little preference or importance to our spirit. God is Spirit.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
The Lord Jesus Christ knew where he was going. He had already said, In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3
Can you say at the time of your death, “Father! Into Thy hands I commend my spirit?” If it is not so, then invite Jesus into your life that he should be the Master of your life. He may be your redeemer.
Confess your sins, repent of your sin and by faith receive His forgiveness. You will experience a strange kind of peace and joy in your life.
Then with confidence you will be able to say, Father! Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.