The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross-50

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit"

2. Here we see a designed contrast.

For more than twelve hours Christ had been in the hands of men. Of this had he spoken to his disciples when he forewarned them that "the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him" (Matthew 17:22, 23). Of this had he made mention amid the awful solemnities of Gethsemane: "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:45). To this the angels made reference on the resurrection morning, saying to the women, "He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again" (Luke 24:6, 7). This received its fulfillment when the Lord Jesus delivered himself up to those who came to arrest him in the Garden. As we saw in an earlier chapter, Christ could have easily avoided arrest. All he had to do was to leave the officers of the priests prostrate on the ground, and walk quietly away. But he did not do so. The appointed hour had struck. The time when he should submit himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter had arrived. And he delivered himself into "the hands of sinners". How they treated him is well known; they took full advantage of their opportunity. They gave full vent to the hatred of the carnal heart for God. With "wicked hands" (Acts 2:23) they crucified him. But now all is over. Man has done his worst. The cross has been endured; the appointed work is finished.

Voluntarily had the Saviour delivered himself into the hands of sinners, and now, voluntarily he delivers his spirit into the hands of the Father. What a blessed contrast! Never again will he be in the "hands of men". Never again will he be at the mercy of the wicked. Never again will he suffer shame. Into the hands of the Father he commits himself, and the Father will now look after his interests. We need not dwell at length on the blessed sequel. Three days later the Father raised him from the dead. Forty days after that the Father exalted him high above all principalities and powers and every name that is named, and set him at his own right hand in the heavens. And there he now sits on the Father’s throne (Revelation 3:21), waiting till his enemies be made his footstool. For one day, ere long, the tables shall be turned. The Father will send back the one whom the world cast out: send him back in power and glory: send him back to rule and reign over the whole earth with a rod of iron. Then shall the situation be reversed. When he was here before man dared to arraign him, but then shall he sit and judge them. Once he was in their hands, then they shall be in his. Once they cried "Away with him", then shall he say, "Depart from me". And in the meantime, he is in the Father’s hands, seated on his throne, awaiting his pleasure!

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the spirit."