Living Room Study

Luke 23

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole earth until three, because the sun’s light failed.  The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle.  And Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.  Saying this, He breathed His last.’”  Luke 23:44-46

The natural phenomena, accompanying Jesus’ crucifixion, were predicted several centuries prior to Jesus’ birth. The prophet Amos, in particular, gives a graphic account, as if he were an eye-witness.

“The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: I will never forget all their deeds.  Because of this, won’t the land quake and all who dwell in it mourn?  All of it will rise like the Nile; it will surge and subside like the Nile in Egypt.  And in that day – this is the declaration of the Lord God – I will make the sun go down at noon; I will darken the land in the daytime.  I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved.  I will make that grief like mourning for an only son and its outcome like a bitter day.”  Amos 8:7-10

Jesus died at three in the afternoon…precisely the moment when the Passover lamb was being slain in the Temple. From the spot most historians agree was Golgotha, the temple mount is clearly seen. The idea is that from the cross, Jesus could see the whole ceremony played-out at the temple. It is possible He was waiting until that precise moment to give up His Spirit.

Another account of Jesus’ redemptive work was recorded by King David.

“Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.  For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name.  You set me free from the net that was securely set for me, for You are my refuge.  Into Your hand, I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, Lord, God of truth.”  Psalm 31:2-5

While Jesus was giving Himself completely, to redeem the world, He was trusting in His Father to redeem Him. In that, there is a potential conundrum: Jesus is about to take the world’s sin upon Himself. At the same time, God is the Righteous judge, Who will by no means clear the guilty. So, how can God adequately judge sin and still pardon His Son, Who Himself remained sinless?

The answer is in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals truth. At His death, Jesus entrusted His Spirit to the Father, and the Spirit testified on Jesus’ behalf. I believe Jesus’ last statement was itself, an affirmation & testimony concerning the Trinity…with all three working in harmony.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins