Knowing The Word in Luke 23:44-49

The Death of Jesus

23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 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. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Comments

Luke did not say what caused the darkness from noon until 3:00 pm during the crucifixion or what caused the curtain of the temple to tear in two. The curtain marked off the Holy of Holies and symbolized the separateness and remoteness of God. The tearing gave symbolic representation to the truth that the death of Jesus opened a way for a new presence of God with his people. There was also the understanding that the Temple was no longer the place of God’s mysterious dwelling.

That Jesus committed his spirit to the Father showed that Jesus was one with the Father at his death, and that Jesus controlled the moment of his death. None of the gospel writers says that he died, which is perhaps on purpose to express Jesus’ death was most unusual.

Luke provided three reactions to the crucifixion. First was that of the centurion, who oversaw the execution. In the death of Jesus, he saw God at work. It is interesting to note that all the centurions in Luke and Acts came to faith in Jesus. Second, the crowd, which instead of being entertained by the event, dispersed greatly saddened. And third was the Jesus party who had come with him from Galilee. Luke revealed nothing about their emotions or reactions at the death of their beloved. He simply recorded that they watched.

Application

The centurion came to faith in Jesus through observation and, we assume, from what he heard Jesus say. Each of us can be a visual witness to the good news of Jesus. How do you display the good news of Jesus in your life as his follower?

Prayer

Let us recall the words Jesus spoke from the cross:

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I am thirsty.

It is finished.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

We thank you, Father, that Jesus died trusting fully in you. May all Christians have the same confidence in the hour of death. May we know that Jesus has conquered death for us all.

Caryl Micklem (modified)