Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

As we read yesterday, John focused on Jesus having made the statement expected of the High Priest after the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, but it seems probably that what Luke recorded happened right after Jesus said that. That He was able to say anything at all in a loud voice at this point is pretty remarkable, because His weight was suspended from the nails driven through His wrists, and most crucified people died from suffocation, with no strength left to draw air into their lungs, much less cry out in a loud voice. This is further evidence that Jesus’ death was volitional. As John noted, Jesus laid down His life, rather than having it taken from Him. (John 10:17) The story of Father Kolbe comes to mind, and there have been others, who for the love of God that was in them chose to die so that others could live. Jesus was of course the ultimate example of that. As He Himself famously said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) There is no eternal life apart from Him, so He chose to give His life in order for us to have life. You can split all sorts of theological hairs as to the mechanics of that, and sadly, some people get into arguments over it, but the fact remains that Jesus gave His life for us, and we receive it by faith. That is the absolute core of the Gospel. We are to rejoice in it, and rejoice to share it with all who will receive it.

Every once in a while it hits me, all that Jesus went through for me, but I don’t spend my days thinking about it. It wouldn’t be bad if I did! The important thing is to live in grateful obedience. If I’m not grateful, then I don’t understand the cross or my sin at all. If that gratitude doesn’t draw me to obedience, then it is empty, just nice words. As Jesus said, after the Last Supper and before His arrest, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23) If my awareness of Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t draw me into intense love for Him, then I don’t understand that sacrifice. The fact that I haven’t been perfectly obedient to Him shows that my love for Him still has room to grow. I desire to love Him perfectly, because He certainly loved me perfectly, when He laid down His life for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. Words are insufficient to express that. May my life be a continuing expression of gratitude and love for You, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!