The Dying Words of Jesus
By Good News Publishers
A person’s dying words can reveal much about them. WE often hear of how someone used their final words to express love, regret, gratitude, and many other things. These last moments often reveal the deepest parts of our soul.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus said as he was dying on the cross? Thankfully, the Bible records these words for us. In the gospel of Luke, we read this: “Then Jesus calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46)
Jesus used his body’s last living moments on the cross to cry out to God. By calling God “Father” Jesus affirmed, while the last breath was in his lungs, the most important thing about him: Jesus is the Son of God. Nevertheless, Jesus really die on that cross. He really did breathe his last. These last moments prove that Jesus is unlike any other person in the history of the world: He really was human (he could die), but he really was divine (he was the son of God).
Why did Jesus “commit” his spirit to God? Jesus knew where he was going to be in just a few seconds. He was going to be in the presence of God, having faithfully carried out the mission God gave to him to die on the cross for sinners like you and me. On the cross, after hours of the cruelest physical suffering imaginable, and the most intense spiritual suffering ever endured—the judgment of God poured onto Jesus for the sins of others—Jesus was at peace. He knew God the Father would receive him into his presence once again. He would soon hear the words, “Well done, my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
And because Jesus was truly the Son of God, his “last words” were not really his last, because he came back to life! Jesus’ resurrection proves that God is truly his Father, and that Jesus is truly the Savior God has sent to the world.
The last prayer of Jesus was not only meant for Jesus. It was meant for us too. The son of God died so that sinners like you and me could be adopted into God’s family. Because of our rebellion against a holy God we are far from him, like orphans left for dead. But Jesus, the Son, died for our sins and rose again so that by believing in him, we could become God’s children. There has never been and there will never be anyone like Jesus!
By taking our place on the cross, Jesus invites us into his place, the place where we can, even in the moment of our death, commit our spirits to the love and grace of a Father who will receive us to be with him forever, “That where I am, you may be also.” (John 14:3) If we trust in Jesus, we too will rise again one day and live joyfully with God our Father forever.
If you want to receive this gift that Jesus offers you, call out to him right now with a prayer like this one:
Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, and that he died on the cross to save me from my sin. I believe that he rose again to life, and that he invites me to live forever with him in heaven as part of your family. Because of what Jesus has done, I ask you to forgive me of my sin and give me eternal life. Please guide me to a Bible-believing church where I can grow as a Christian with others who love Jesus. Amen.
