Question: Why did Jesus comment [commit] His spirit in the hands is His father?
Answered by: Tim Munger, who has been a volunteer with us since June, 2009.
Answer: Thank you for writing to us at GotQuestions as we value the trust you have shown us. Often at Easter week pastors will speak on the seven words of the cross. This is the final word of the Lord Jesus from the cross. He said, ‘And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your Hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last’ (Luke 23:45). The cry of His final moment on earth. That which had started with His virgin birth at His delivery in the stable of Bethlehem, and now His death had come in a public, shameful, and painful manner; crucifixion. His final words came from Psalm 31:5, ‘Into Your Hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.’ Even in His death He lived in light of the Word of God.
So why did He utter these words? He died as He lived, pleasing the Father. He said, ‘Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your Name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’ (John 12:27-28). He surrendered Himself to His Father, He did His will to the very end. And now at the end, He willingly and gladly gave His life into His Father’s hands. With redemption complete, salvation secured, and the Enemy defeated, His work finished, He departed with the confidence that He had done the Father’s will to the end. Nothing more needed to happen, so He finished His life confidently, victoriously. He committed Himself to His Father.
I think there is one more aspect to this statement. He laid His life down willingly. No one took it from Him. He said in John 10:17-18, ‘Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.’ He said it to show His authority, and His surrender to His Father’s will. As a result, the centurion standing there said, ‘Certainly, this was a righteous Man’ (Luke 23:47)!
Dr. Erwin Lutzer writes of this statement, ‘Jesus commended His spirit to the Father, placing Himself with assurance into the Father’s care’ (p. 138; Cries from the Cross; Erwin W. Lutzer). May we have the same confidence to do the same!
Thank you for writing to us, and we hope that you will write again. May the Lord bless you and give you His grace and peace abundantly. Happy Resurrection Sunday! He Is RISEN!
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Question: So I read about the meaning of “he who endures to the end will be saved.” And I understand the answer. What about physical pain. I have an incurable condition in which pain medicines are minimally effective. It’s been 20 years. I don’t think I can stand another month of it. Have I not endured? I am a physician, so I have exhausted all known options. And I have prayed without ceasing.
Answered by: Sarah Van Baale, who has been a volunteer with us since January, 2010.
Answer: Yes, you are enduring. But life is a race – long, tiresome, and sometimes painful. Why does God allow some people to endure horrific circumstances while others seem more fortunate? I wish I were able to give you a perfect answer. I wish I could give you exactly the right words to encourage you in your walk. Even more so, I wish I had the ability to relieve you of your pain.
But God hasn’t given me the ability to take away your pain, and honestly I might not even have the perfect answer for you. Living in a fallen world is so difficult. In fact, I just got a prayer request from a young mother in our church who had her first baby a month early and there are severe complications. Even though I love God, it is hard to understand the physical suffering He allows His children to endure. This innocent baby hasn’t been in this world more than a few minutes and she is struggling to live, while others, like yourself have been struggling with pain for years. Why doesn’t a loving God rescue all His children? Why doesn’t He heal them immediately from all of their pain?
When we ask ourselves these questions, it is easy to say, ‘Well, if I were God, I would…,’ and then we have to stop ourselves because that is when we make a grave mistake. Here is the truth. We aren’t God, and while we may think we know what is best, we can only see the world from our single point of view. But God is the potter and we are the clay. Isaiah 64:8 reads ‘But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.’ Yet God loves us dearly. And sometimes as He is remolding us and reshaping us into the likeness of Christ, life is really uncomfortable and even painful. This physical pain that you feel can either draw you toward Christ or away from Him. But don’t let it be in vain. Allow your suffering to be used for the glory of God.
I don’t pretend to know what God’s purpose is in all of this, but I do know He is not haphazard and He doesn’t make mistakes. God is very purposeful, and at some point He IS going to rescue every single one of His children. Not one of us will be lost from His hand. (John 10:28) This life here on earth that we have now is not forever, it is just for now. You can endure and you are enduring. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose the faith. Don’t put your eyes on your suffering, but put your eyes on Jesus. Know that we don’t live for the here and now, but for eternity. While you are here, make the most of it. Share your faith – even through your pain. There are many in this world who also suffer deeply but don’t know Christ. Wouldn’t it be horrible to suffer here and suffer in eternity? Don’t let your suffering be in vain.
Truly I wish I could alleviate your pain on earth. And perhaps one day God will make a way. But even if He doesn’t take away your pain here, you still have the opportunity to share your story and your faith with others so that they will not experience pain in eternity. You are enduring. Don’t give up. You can make it all the way to the finish line and then God will tell you, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ I will be praying for you.
