“Father, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.
”
The last act of our Lord in thus commending his spirit at the close of his life, was only a summing up of what he had been doing all his life. He had been offering this sacrifice, the sacrifice of himself, all those years, and in thus sacrificing he had lived the divine life. Every morning when he went out ere it was day, every evening when he lingered on the night-lapt mountain after his friends were gone, he was offering himself to his Father in the communion of loving words, of speechless feeling, of healing deeds. For the way to worship God while the daylight lasts is to work; the service of God is the helping of our fellows.
This commending of our spirits to the Father is not a grievous burden, but the highest privilege we possess, the simplest, most blessed thing in the world. For a man may say, I am going out into the business and turmoil of the day, where so many temptations may come to do less faithfully, less kindly, less diligently than the Lord would have me do. Father, into thy hands. Am I going to do a good deed? Then, of all times, Father, into thy hands, lest the enemy should have me now. Am I going to do a hard duty, from which I would gladly be turned aside? To refuse a friend’s request? Am I in pain? Take my spirit, Lord, and see, as thou art wont, that it has no more than it can bear. Am I going to die? Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. For it is thy business, not mine. Thou wilt know every shade of my suffering, Thou wilt care for me with thy perfect fatherhood.
Commentary
by Leah Morency
"See from his head, his hands his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did err such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown...
Love so amazing
So divine
Demands my Soul, My Life, My all"
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Isaac Watts
Christ speaks the Word in his last moment before finishing the great Work Of the Father
We read and can relate,
3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. - Psalm 31:3-5
God allows our suffering, for His purpose is Redemption.
Painting by Leah Morency