Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
433 words, 2 minutes read time

Jesus Controls His Own Death

Scripture: Mark 15:39; Luke 23:46-47; John 19:30

In the previous lesson we learned that the work of Jesus he was sent to do by his Father is now complete. In this lesson we will witness the death of Jesus that leads up to some powerful aftershocks.

^{Lk 23:46} [Then Jesus] calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this, ^{Jn 19:30} [Jesus] bowed his head and breathed his last and gave up his spirit. ^{Mk 15:39} And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, ^{Lk 23:47} he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

We finished the previous lesson with Jesus crying out with a loud voice, “It is finished.” and then still under control of his situation, he continues saying in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said that, Jesus then bowed his head and breathed his last and gave up his spirit to God.

In Luke 23:43, Jesus told the criminal on the cross that he would be with him that day in paradise (heaven) and is now preparing to return his human spirit to the presence of God the Father. With the return of his spirit ready, Jesus bowed his head and breathed out his last breath and voluntary gave up his human spirit. Through every step at the end of his life, Jesus was in complete control.

The centurion, who had seen many crucifixions, watched Jesus, he saw the difference between his death and the death others. When he saw how Jesus controlled everything including the exact timing of his last breath, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

In addition to watching Jesus die, the centurion watched the behavior of Jesus toward his enemies when he asked his Father to forgive them. He also listened to the words spoken to the criminal and he listened to Jesus pray to God. He observed the supernatural darkness and realized that this death was nothing like how other die on the cross and is awed and is brought to the point of praising God.

Conclusion

This centurion and guards had carried out many crucifixions but because of the cataclysmic events, coupled with the extraordinary self-control, purity, and love shown by Jesus in his death, the centurion was brought to the point of praising God (Luke 23:47) and said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).