Luke 23:44-49

Luke 23:44-49

And it was now in the sixth hour.  Darkness became over the whole earth until the ninth hour.  The sun failed, and the curtain of the temple was being split in the middle.  After calling out in a great voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I place my spirit.”  And after saying this thing He breathed out.  And after the centurion saw this thing that happened, he was glorifying God, saying, “Truly this man was righteous.”  And all the crowd who came together upon this spectacle – after watching with the eyes the things that became and while striking their breasts, they were turning back.  And all the ones known to Him, even the women who accompanied Him from Galilee, had sat from a distance while seeing these things.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Jesus dies, darkness ensues.  The earth becomes black.  As Jesus takes on the sin of the world and dies for the sin, the world darkens.  The darkest hour is surprisingly the brightest indicator of our future.  Out of this darkness will come the salvation of the world and relationship with God.  The centurion gives us the witness.  Truly this was righteous.

Why did God take on this sin of the world?  What does this story tell us about righteousness?  Where in your life to you emulate this understanding of righteousness?

Second Thought:

There has been much said about Jesus words as He died.  “Into Your hands I place my spirit.”  I don’t believe that I can add anything more than what has already been said.  This is the epitome of humble righteousness.  This is the essence of faith.  Jesus models true relationship with the Father in this statement.  What can any of us do other than put all of our faith and trust into the hands of the Father?  Is our spirit ever in any safer place than the hands of the one who breathed life into us in the first place?

How readily do you trust in the Father?  How does this trust show up in your life?

Third Thought:

The final verses tell us an interesting story.  Remember the Garden of Gethsemane?  The soldiers come and the disciples fled.  Chaos ensued as Jesus’ followers fled for their lives.  But they didn’t run far.  They didn’t abandon their faith.  They are still there, waiting for God to act.  They are afraid, but watching from a distance.  They are faithful, just cautious.  I’m not trying to excuse them.  In their arrogance they promised to die with Jesus if necessary.  Their humanity showed when life became tough.  But after their flight reflex waned, their logic and their heart took over.  They came back.

How do you feel about the humanity of the followers of Jesus?  Where can you relate to what they are going through?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 23:50-56