Words From the Cross: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

Luke 23:46

There was never a son like Jesus. He was faithful to his Father and trusting to the end. When we think of the obedience and faithfulness of Christ, we tend to think of his final moments, the incredible trust it would have taken for him to endure the cross. But the faithfulness of Jesus began long before the passion, even before he began his public ministry. Jesus was always a faithful son. He embraced the cross long before Good Friday.

The cross was not just something that happened to Jesus at the end of his life. The cross was present at the cradle. Jesus was a child like no other. He was a boy born for one purpose–born to die for the sins of the world. The cross shaped and propelled all of Jesus’ life.

We see this when Jesus’ parents took him to the temple when he was just an infant. An elderly saint named Simeon, took Jesus into his arms and thanked God for the salvation that he held. But when he handed Jesus back to Mary he said, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) Imagine what that would have felt like for poor, postpartum Mary! Simeon’s prophecy would prove true. As she watched her boy suffer in life, a sword would pierce Mary’s soul again and again.

How many times did Mary have to comfort Jesus as a child? Small towns can be brutal places if you have scandal in your family history. If grown men were making passive aggressive comments about Jesus being born under a cloud of suspicion (John 8:41), what do you think it was like for him growing up? Children can be cruel. How many times did Mary take Jesus’ face into her hands, wipe away his tears and remind him that his birth was beautiful, not something to be ashamed of? I bet that sword pierced her soul often. What a weight Jesus bore at such an early age. Still he remained faithful. 

When he was 12 years old, Jesus accompanied his parents to Jerusalem, for the first Passover in which Jesus would have been considered an adult. He was no longer considered a child, but a “son of the law”, (Barclay) so he participated in the Passover ceremonies as a man. This is important, because this may have been the first time he viscerally understood what Passover meant–an innocent lamb bore the sins of God’s people and gave his life so that the children of God might be forgiven and live. He saw with his own eyes the cost of forgiveness, what it meant to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Most 12 year old boys would shove these thoughts to the back of their minds and run off to play with their friends. But not Jesus. While everyone else traveled back home, Jesus stayed. 

When his parents found him three days later, he was in the Temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. When Mary asked him why he had put her in such a state of panic (which was a valid question from an anxious mama), his reply was heartbreaking in its innocence and trust: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” (Luke 2:49) That phrase can also be translated “I must be about my Father’s business”. What happened in his Father’s house? What was his Father’s business? It was a business of blood. 

When every other little 12 year old boy ran off and played, our Jesus stayed. What a faithful son!

The cross continued to shape the life and ministry of Jesus. From his earliest conversations, Jesus referred to his “hour”. This hour pulled propelled him forward. When he entered Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus cried out, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” (John 12:27-28) What was “the hour” that Jesus obediently embraced? It was the moment in time when he would climb a hill, lay down on a cross, and pay for all of the sins of God’s wayward children. Jesus knew that he had come for one purpose.

And he would not let his Abba down.

When we realize that everything Jesus has done has been in faithful obedience to his Father, then Jesus’ words from the cross reveal something beautiful, not only about his heart, but the heart of his Father. He prays for forgiveness because that is the deepest desire of the Father–to forgive and redeem sinners like us. He invites the thief to join him in paradise, because the Father loves lost things (see Luke 15), and sent his Son to gather us up and bring us home. Jesus cared for his mother and John, because our Father deeply cares for orphans and widows in their distress. (James 1:27) He became forsaken on our behalf, because he knew that the Father could never turn his back on us, even though we deserve it. He became thirsty, because he knew that the Father longs to satisfy us with himself. 

He finished the work the Father had called him to do, because he knew the heart of his Abba. His Father is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love towards his wayward sons and daughters. Everything Jesus did, every word he uttered was a gift of love to his Father. This boy suffered long, and did so well. 

His final breath was an act of trusting obedience that the Father had seen, known and valued his sacrifice. So he committed himself into the hands of this good, good Father.  

Do you ever wonder if you can trust God? Do you ever doubt his goodness or wonder if he cares? We all do at some point. When our hearts struggle to believe that God will keep his promises to us, we have a firm place to stand. We can look to the obedient Son, the one who gave all he had because he trusted his Father. The faithful Son poured out his life, so that you and I could be brought home, so that the Father could gather us up and enfold us into his arms. Abba loves you, child of God. He longs to be near you. So he sent his faithful, trustworthy Son to redeem you so you could come home. 

Praise God for this boy! May treasure him as the gift he is.