“And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.” And having said this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46 (NAS)

Luke’s account of Jesus’ death is the only one that records the complete last statement made by our Lord before breathing His last, and as Matthew pens, yielding “up His spirit.” (Matt. 27:50b) 

The apostle John through the Spirit provides us Jesus’ last words that were uttered and would be appended to Luke’s account , “it is finished.” (John 19:30) The loud cry (voice) that Matthew and Mark record Jesus as having made would have been, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit. It is finished.” Right up to the end of His earthly life, in horrible agony hanging on the cross, Jesus quotes Scripture. Psalm 31:5 reads, “Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.” (NAS) This is what was on Jesus’ mind as physical death was closing in to claim one more victim.  This inspired statement of David, the man after God’s own heart, had been written a thousand years before (approximately) for the express purpose of our Savior to quote as He was yielding up His spirit to the Father. Jesus was willing to follow God’s plan for Him because He knew He could entrust “Himself to Him who judges righteously.” ( 1 Peter 2:23) Jesus’ trust, as was David’s trust before Him, was based upon truth. No one will entrust themselves to anyone if they have been proven to be unfaithful or a liar. Both knew the record of the LORD and placed their destiny fully in His hands. Therein lies the importance again brethren, of being able to prove to yourself and others, that the Bible only is the revelation and recorded word of the One True God. If you have doubt about anything that has been written for our edification, you will not ultimately trust that the LORD will ransom you at that key moment in your life-when death comes pounding at your door. Remember, that is the Devil’s strategy, fear of death. That is why his workers (who disguise themselves as workers of righteousness) constantly attack the issue of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and His appearance in His fleshly body to many witnesses before ascending to the throne in heaven. Doubt of Jesus’ physical resurrection holds you in fear of death which means the Devil still has you ensnared to do his will. Let’s turn our attention back to Psalm 31 and some of its context. David wrote through inspiration, “Thou will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me: for Thou art my strength.” (vs 4) Concerning His ultimate delivery he wrote, “And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.” (vs 8) How about this section, see if it rings any bells: “Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind, I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many, terror is on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they schemed to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in Thee, O LORD, I say, ‘Thou art my God.’ My times are in Thy hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; save me in Thy lovingkindness.’ ” (vss 11-16) Jesus, like David, knew the Father would deliver Him from the net His enemies had laid-death, and from His true enemy, the Devil.  The LORD did just that – pulling Him up out of the grave and seating Him in glory (before the Father’s face). Brethren, times and circumstances can be tough for the believer. Like Jesus, shouldn’t we remember to cry out to the Father? ‘As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from before Thine eyes”; nevertheless Thou didst hear the voice of my supplications when I cried to Thee. O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses the proud doer. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD.’ (vss 22-24) Jesus’ confidence and His hope in His times of need stemmed from the truth of the Scripture and the power of prayer. How about us? Those in Christ have been ransomed through Him. Have you committed your spirit, your whole being to Him? Amen.