Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)
We read in Luke’s Gospel that on the cross Jesus ‘called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.’
After the physical, psychological and spiritual agony that is shown by most of the seven sayings from the cross this last one blesses us by its difference.
It is a simple, quiet and gentle prayer: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ In Jewish tradition, these words were used as an evening prayer before going to sleep, so its use here is even more appropriate.
Once more Jesus is quoting a psalm, this time Psalm 31:5 – ‘into your hands I commit my spirit’ – but has added to it that personal little word ‘Father’. The addition of ‘Father’ to these words is typical of Jesus and the result is a prayer of almost childlike trust. On the cross everything has been battled and fought, but now that appalling storm has blown over. The torment, the agony, the separation – all are now ended. Jesus’ work is done and as death creeps over him the darkness that has descended on the world lifts.
The return of that trusting word for God, ‘Father’, is a quiet confirmation that the appalling, unfathomable gap between Father and Son that existed on the cross is now ended. There is unity once more between Father and Son. Jesus knows that what will be wrapped around him soon are not just grave clothes, but his Father’s embrace. There is reunion now and soon there will be resurrection.
We have seen how we can personally identify with many of the words of the cross. We can do this here. This is a good prayer for every difficult and uncertain time in life. If you have come to know God as Father through Christ then it is an appropriate prayer at the start and end of any day, before any danger and before sleep. It is even more appropriate before death. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, whatever we face – even the grave itself – we can commit ourselves securely and confidently into the Father’s hands.
Ponder: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5, NLT
Prayer: Lord, thank you that whatever we face, today and in the future, we can be confident that you are with us. Help us to go out in this knowledge and to carry your presence to our world. Amen.
