December 11

Last Words

Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. — Luke 23:46 BSB

This was the seventh and final word spoken by Jesus on the cross. His work as Redeemer was now fully accomplished, as His previous word, “finished,” had confirmed. Now He was ready to return to His Father. Ahead lay the mystery of death. He was about to lose consciousness and His spirit was about to leave His body. Yet here we see His calm, unwavering faith. The struggle was over, and He was at peace. The word “Father” shows that His soul had found serenity once more. Not long before, He had felt abandoned in darkness, but now the light had returned, and His Father’s loving face shone on Him again. It was the first taste of the glorious joy of redemption, flooding His soul as He passed from the shadows of the cross.

This scene offers us a picture of what it means for a Christian to die. It’s simply the soul being placed into the loving hands of the heavenly Father. Death often seems strange and frightening, something unknown. We leave behind everything familiar—friends, loved ones, and the world we know—and journey into what seems like darkness, a valley of shadows. We wonder: What is death? Where will we be when we leave our bodies? Will it be dark or light? Will we be alone or surrounded by others?

Here, the words of Jesus offer comfort. When a believer dies, they pass immediately into the Father’s hands. That’s all we need to know. If we’re in our Father’s care, we will be safe for eternity. With this understanding, death should hold no fear for us. No child is afraid to go into their father’s arms, and for a believer, that’s what dying is.