Trusting God: Jesus' Final Words on the Cross
Summary
On this Good Friday, we reflect on the profound significance of Jesus' final words on the cross: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." These words are not a cry of defeat or despair but a declaration of trust and victory. They encapsulate the essence of Jesus' relationship with the Father and offer us a model for how to live and die with faith and assurance.
Jesus' last words are a testament to his intimate communion with the Father. Despite the agony and abandonment he experienced, he addresses God as "Father," signifying restored fellowship and the completion of his mission. This intimate term reminds us that the cross is not the end of a relationship but the restoration of it. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are invited into a relationship with God where we can call Him "Father," embracing the spirit of adoption and the privilege of being His children.
The phrase "into your hands" signifies a profound transfer of trust. Throughout his trial and crucifixion, Jesus was in the hands of men who sought to harm him. Yet, in his final moments, he places himself in the hands of the Father, demonstrating a deliberate choice to trust in God's loving and just nature. This act challenges us to consider where we place our trust. Are we entrusting our lives to the world, which seeks to harm and destroy, or to God, who offers life and restoration?
The word "commit" in Jesus' statement is a powerful declaration of entrusting one's spirit to God. It is an act of faith, not fear, and serves as a daily example for us to follow. Jesus' willingness to entrust his spirit to the Father encourages us to commit every aspect of our lives to God, knowing that He is capable of safeguarding what we hold dear.
As we reflect on Jesus' example, we are called to examine our own lives. What have we not surrendered to God? What fears or trials prevent us from fully trusting Him? Jesus' trust in the Father, even in his darkest hour, challenges us to place our lives in God's hands, confident in His strength, mercy, and love.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' final words on the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," reflect a deep trust and intimate relationship with God, reminding us that the cross restores our fellowship with the Father. [03:00]
- The phrase "into your hands" signifies a deliberate choice to trust in God's loving and just nature, challenging us to consider where we place our trust—in the world or in God. [09:55]
- The word "commit" is a powerful declaration of entrusting one's spirit to God, serving as a daily example for us to follow in faith, not fear. [17:20]
- Jesus' willingness to entrust his spirit to the Father encourages us to commit every aspect of our lives to God, knowing that He is capable of safeguarding what we hold dear. [22:34]
- Reflecting on Jesus' example, we are called to examine our own lives and consider what we have not surrendered to God, trusting in His strength, mercy, and love. [07:20]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:00] - The Significance of Jesus' Final Words
[05:30] - Communion with the Father
[07:20] - Restored Fellowship
[09:55] - Trusting in God's Hands
[12:30] - The Choice of Trust
[14:45] - The Act of Commitment
[17:20] - Daily Example of Faith
[19:10] - Examining Our Lives
[21:00] - Surrendering to God
[22:34] - Trusting God in All Things
[24:00] - Communion and Reflection
[26:15] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 23:46: "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."
- Romans 8:15: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'"
- 2 Timothy 1:12: "Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the final words of Jesus on the cross as recorded in Luke 23:46, and what do they signify about his relationship with the Father? [03:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the transition of Jesus being in the hands of men to being in the hands of the Father? [09:55]
3. What does the word "commit" mean in the context of Jesus' final words, and how is it described in the sermon? [17:20]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' use of the word "Father" in his final words reflect his restored relationship with God, and what does this imply for believers today? [07:20]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' final words are a model for how believers should live and die? [03:00]
3. How does the sermon explain the significance of entrusting one's spirit to God, and what does this mean for daily Christian living? [17:20]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have not fully entrusted to God? What steps can you take to commit these areas to Him this week? [22:34]
2. Jesus trusted the Father even in his darkest hour. What current challenges or fears are you facing that you need to trust God with? How can you actively place these in His hands? [22:34]
3. The sermon emphasizes the choice between trusting the world or God. Identify a specific situation where you have relied on worldly solutions. How can you shift your trust to God in this situation? [09:55]
4. Consider the concept of spiritual adoption mentioned in Romans 8:15. How does knowing you are a child of God change the way you approach your relationship with Him and others?
5. The sermon challenges us to examine what we have not surrendered to God. What practical steps can you take to surrender these areas and experience the peace that comes from trusting Him fully? [17:20]
6. Reflect on the idea of committing your spirit to God as a daily practice. What daily habits or routines can you establish to remind yourself to entrust your life to God?
7. How can the example of Jesus' trust in the Father during his crucifixion inspire you to trust God more deeply in your own life, especially during difficult times? [22:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in the Father's Restorative Power
Jesus' final words on the cross, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," reflect a deep trust and intimate relationship with God. These words remind us that the cross is not merely a symbol of suffering but a means of restoring our fellowship with the Father. Despite the agony and sense of abandonment Jesus experienced, he still addressed God as "Father," signifying a restored relationship and the completion of his mission. This intimate term invites us to embrace the spirit of adoption, recognizing the privilege of being God's children. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are called to trust in the Father's restorative power, knowing that our relationship with Him is secure and eternal. [03:00]
Psalm 31:5 (ESV): "Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God."
Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your trust in God's restorative power today, especially in areas where you feel distant from Him?
Day 2: Choosing God's Hands Over the World's
The phrase "into your hands" signifies a deliberate choice to trust in God's loving and just nature. Throughout his trial and crucifixion, Jesus was in the hands of men who sought to harm him. Yet, in his final moments, he chose to place himself in the hands of the Father. This act challenges us to consider where we place our trust. Are we entrusting our lives to the world, which seeks to harm and destroy, or to God, who offers life and restoration? By choosing God's hands, we acknowledge His sovereignty and goodness, trusting that He will guide and protect us through life's trials. [09:55]
Isaiah 41:13 (ESV): "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'"
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you are currently placing trust in worldly solutions. How can you begin to shift that trust to God today?
Day 3: The Power of Commitment
The word "commit" in Jesus' statement is a powerful declaration of entrusting one's spirit to God. It is an act of faith, not fear, and serves as a daily example for us to follow. Jesus' willingness to entrust his spirit to the Father encourages us to commit every aspect of our lives to God, knowing that He is capable of safeguarding what we hold dear. This commitment is not a one-time event but a continual process of surrendering our fears, desires, and plans to God, trusting in His perfect will and timing. [17:20]
2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV): "But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me."
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life that you have not fully committed to God? What steps can you take today to entrust this area to Him?
Day 4: Embracing God's Safeguarding Love
Jesus' willingness to entrust his spirit to the Father encourages us to commit every aspect of our lives to God, knowing that He is capable of safeguarding what we hold dear. This act of trust is a testament to God's unwavering love and protection. As we reflect on Jesus' example, we are reminded that God's love is a safe haven, a place where we can find peace and assurance. By entrusting our lives to Him, we acknowledge His ability to protect and preserve us, even in the midst of life's uncertainties. [22:34]
Psalm 121:7-8 (ESV): "The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
Reflection: Consider a fear or worry that you are currently holding onto. How can you release it into God's safeguarding love today?
Day 5: Surrendering to God's Strength and Mercy
Reflecting on Jesus' example, we are called to examine our own lives and consider what we have not surrendered to God. Jesus' trust in the Father, even in his darkest hour, challenges us to place our lives in God's hands, confident in His strength, mercy, and love. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but an acknowledgment of God's power and grace. By surrendering our fears, trials, and uncertainties to Him, we open ourselves to His transformative work in our lives, trusting that He will lead us with wisdom and compassion. [07:20]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: What is one trial or challenge you are currently facing? How can you actively surrender it to God's strength and mercy today?
Quotes
Jesus gave seven cries from the cross, all of them powerful and all of them so very important. But I want to focus in on the very last words of Jesus before he died. They say famous words are important and most famous words are the final words that are ever given by a human being. If you've ever said goodbye to a loved one, someone near and dear, you lean in to that person. You lean in and you listen with great intent and purpose to hear and to receive those last moments, those last words that will last a lifetime. It has been said that last words are lasting words. [00:00:11] (48 seconds)
All throughout the Old and even New Testament, that number seven speaks of completion. And so how apropos that Jesus would complete his ministry here on earth. By declaring seven words and this one, so important for us today, because it teaches us not only how we ought to die, but how we ought to live. You see, Jesus' last words on the cross give us a template, they give us a guide, they model for us what it means for us to live as Christ did. [00:03:00] (33 seconds)
And then later on, while on the cross, at the darkest, most difficult of moments, he cried out, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? That's a cry of abandonment. That's a cry that no one ever wants to utter. But then we get to the seventh one, Father, into your hands. And what we hear is not a cry of intercession or a cry of abandonment. We have a declaration of reunion, a declaration of victory. It is not a moment of weakness, no friends, it is worship. It's not panic, it's peace. [00:04:04] (42 seconds)
The cross had been accomplished. Salvation had been brought to us. And as a result of that, here is this cry not of abandonment but a cry of affection, Father. A powerful reminder that the cross is not a destruction of fellowship. But friends, it is a path to restoring it. You see, what Jesus communicates is that in his final words, he's telling us the judgment is over. The wrath is done. The debt has been paid for. And now the only thing that we have to be concerned about is our Father in heaven. [00:06:33] (40 seconds)
He says, now I commit myself in this holy transfer to this great reversal, no longer in the hands of sinners, Jesus places himself in the hand of the Father, the strong and gentle and just and loving hands. And friends, this tells us that we have a Father in heaven, a Father who is calling us, and Jesus who is modeling for us, that we have a choice to make in this life. We can hand our lives and we can hand all that is near and dear to us into the hands of the world. [00:10:06] (36 seconds)
And God says, I want to give you life and to give it to you in all abundance. You see, the devil seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. But your Father in heaven desires that you would commit your life to him so that he could give you good gifts, gifts that a loving father longs to bestow upon his children. You see, we have a choice to make. Will we allow ourselves and our lives to be in the hands of the world? Or rightly, as they were created to be, in the hands of God. [00:11:52] (36 seconds)
And what we are seeing in this is that Jesus isn't just doing this as a once example, but it's an example for all of us every day. We have this father in heaven who loves us, this father who wants to commune with us. And we have to make a choice. Will we put ourselves into the hands of that God or will we choose to put our lives and all that we have into our hands and allow the world and sinful men to steal, kill, and destroy it and take it from our lives? [00:13:15] (33 seconds)
we have this opportunity to give our lives as jesus did to the father now let's understand jesus didn't resist death he released his spirit nobody took it away he didn't do it in fear but he did it in faith he did it as a willing act and that's what we need to do as a willing act of our commitment to the lord we say to the lord with all that we have and all that we are i give you god my life i give you everything that i have everything that is near and dear i commit to you i entrust to you for safe keeping [00:14:58] (43 seconds)
And God says, I want to give you life and to give it to you in all abundance. You see, the devil seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. But your Father in heaven desires that you would commit your life to him so that he could give you good gifts, gifts that a loving father longs to bestow upon his children. You see, we have a choice to make. Will we allow ourselves and our lives to be in the hands of the world? Or rightly, as they were created to be, in the hands of God. Father, into your hands. Notice next, it's a word of commitment. I commit. I commit my spirit. [00:11:52] (46 seconds)
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