Text: Luke 23:44-49

= Last Moment of Jesus’ Life Vs. 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.

Topic: “Father, into your hands I commit my

spirit.”

= Two Last Words in Connection (John 19:30, Luke 23:46)

“It is finished.” “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

= Last Words with a Loud Voice: Vs. 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.

Mt. 27:34 - There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

John 19:30 - When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

How Can We be Confident at the Moment

of Death?

1. 1. Your Faith in Final Authority

Vs. 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.

= What Kind of Feeling Must Jesus Have Had in Calling God “Father” before His Last Breath?

Vs. 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.

(1) Sense of Control – To God’s Hands

Mt. 16:21 - From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

(2) Sense of Season – To God’s Eternity

John 16:32 - “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

Psalm 31:14-15 – But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

(3) Sense of Status – To His Position

Hebrews 10:12 - when Christ had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

(4) Sense of Yearning – To Eternity Home

John 17:1,4,5 - After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

= What Kinds of Senses Do We Have to Hold at the Moment of Our Death?

John 14:2-3 - In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

2. 2. Your Faith in Final Conclusion

Vs. 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.

= What was Jesus Accused about during His Life of Three-Year Ministry?

John 6:60,66 - On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

(1) Crazy - Demon-possessedJohn 10:20 - Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

(2) BlasphemerMark 14:62-64 - Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the

clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

(3) DeceiverMt 27:61-63 - The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

(4) Rebel - Trouble-MakerLuke 23:5 - But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

= What do You Think is the Most Humiliating Insult to Jesus?

Mark 15:32 - Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

(1) Luke 23:35 - The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

(2) Luke 23:36 - The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

(3) Mk 15:31-32 - In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

= What does the Final Conclusion of God Bring to Christians who Die in the Lord Jesus?

Psalm 62:1,5 - My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

(1) Rest from MinistriesHebrews 9:12 - He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

(2) Rest from ViewpointsActs 17:31 - God has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” NLT.

A Case Study of Last Moment (Acts 7:54-60)

Acts 7:59-60 – While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7:55-56- But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

3. 3. Your Faith in Final Victory

Vs 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.

= How Can the Way of Christians’ Death Give a Deep Impact to the Hearts of Non-Christians?

Luke 23:47 - The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Mt. 27:54 - When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

= What is the Root of Jesus’ Uttermost Confidence on the Final Victory at the Moment of His Death?

Vs. 46 - Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

(1) His Own Teaching on Resurrection

Mt. 16:21 - From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

(2) His Own Will on Resurrection

John 10:17 - The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

(3) His Own Joy on ResurrectionHebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

= How Can We be Absolutely Confident of Our Future after the Earthly Life?

Hebrews 10:35 - So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

We Have Better Judge:1Cor 4:3-5 - I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore

judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

We Have Better Reward: Hebrews 10:32-35 - Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You

sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

How Can We be Confident at the Moment of Death?

Your Faith in Final Authorityin Final Conclusionin Final Victory