“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teach us to pray, as John taught His disciples.’ And He said to them, ‘When you pray, say; Father…‘” – Luke 11:1, 2
“So they took away the stone (from the grave of Lazarus). And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me…” – John 11:41
“When Jesus had spoken these words (in the upper room), He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come…'” – John 17:1
“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this He breathed His last.” – Luke 23:44-46
We come now to the last word of Jesus from the cross. Like the last two it is spoken at 3pm on that Friday evening. Luke tells us that He spoke it “with a loud voice” with His last breath. This word is similar to the first one because it starts with the intimate address…”Father“.
This time we are almost uncomfortable as if we are listening in on a private moment that was meant only to be between a Son and His Father. Yet, Jesus speaks it out loud…with a loud voice! Once again, this was not the first time that Jesus had spoken to His Father loud enough for others to hear. All during His life He prayed to His Father openly and frequently. He was not ashamed to reveal that God was not only the Almighty King of kings, but also a kind and loving Father.
I wonder if John was reminded of all the times when he heard Jesus pray with such passion and intensity. These tender moments were so powerful and made such an impression on the disciples that they asked Him to teach them how to pray that way. Could it be possible for us to have a relationship like that with the Father?
Yes.
Jesus said that when you pray, begin with…”Father.” It all starts with a relationship. To address God as Father is to tear through the curtain that has separated the Creator from His Creation. It is coming directly into the throne room due to a personal relationship to the King! Jesus was saying to His disciples that this kind of relationship is possible. It was the purpose of His coming. It was the purpose of the cross! At 3pm on that Friday the curtain that had separated us from the inner court was torn in two and access was granted. Our sin has been forgiven and the barriers are removed. We can speak to the Father with the same intensity as Jesus did from the cross;
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
This simple statement reveals to us Jesus’ complete trust in His compassionate Father. Wholly putting His life into His loving “hands”. O Believer, today you too can trust the Good Shepherd. Commit yourself and your circumstances into the hands of your heavenly Father and allow Him to take care of you.