Remember, once again, that this is Dr. Luke speaking from a doctor’s viewpoint. He had been in the presence of many people who had died. He knew how they died, and He knew how our Lord died. Our Lord’s death was different. It has been my unpleasant duty to be in the presence of folk who are dying. There is what is commonly known as the “death rattle” when one draws his last breath. It is always with a struggle and with great effort. The two thieves on their crosses undoubtedly died that way, but the Lord Jesus did not. He voluntarily died. He dismissed His spirit. Did you notice what He said? “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” with a loud voice; it doesn’t sound like a man whose life is ebbing away. John adds that His final word was a shout of victory—“Tetelestai!” It is finished!

23:46 into your hands I entrust my spirit Jesus’ final cry of dedication to God the Father in Luke’s Gospel is a quotation from Psa 31:5 (compare Luke 22:42).

23:44–49. Luke noted four things that occurred at the time Jesus died. First, two symbolic events took place while Jesus was on the cross. Darkness came over the whole land for three hours, from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3:00 P.M.). Jesus had already told those who arrested Him that “this is your hour—when darkness reigns” (22:53). Darkness was reigning because of His crucifixion. The other symbolic event was the tearing in two of the curtain of the temple, which separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple. The curtain divided people from the place where God had localized His presence. The tearing from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51) symbolized the fact that now, because of Jesus’ death, people had freer access to God as they no longer had to go through the sacrificial system (cf. Rom. 5:2; Eph. 2:18; 3:12). Jesus was the only Sacrifice needed to enable people to have a proper relationship with God.

Second, Luke noted that Jesus’ death occurred because He willed it. Breathing His last (Luke 23:46), He voluntarily gave up His life (John 10:15, 17–18).

Third, even a Roman centurion noted that Jesus was a righteous Man, that is, not guilty (Luke 23:47). He too praised God, as did many others in Luke’s Gospel.

Fourth, the people who witnessed His death mourned (vv. 48–49).

(4) Jesus died with a prayer on his lips. ‘Father, into your hand I commit my spirit.’ That is Psalm 31:5 with one word added—Father. That verse was the prayer every Jewish mother taught her child to say last thing at night. Just as we were taught, maybe, to say, ‘This night I lay me down to sleep,’ so the Jewish mother taught her child to say, before the threatening dark came down, ‘Into thy hands I commit my spirit.’ Jesus made it even more lovely for he began it with the word Father. Even on a cross Jesus died like a child falling asleep in his father’s arms.

31:5. With confidence in the Lord (vv. 3–4) he committed his spirit into the hands of the LORD, praying that the God of truth (cf. Isa. 65:16) would redeem him (see comments on Ps. 26:11). The same confident resting in God during the onslaught of the wicked was expressed by the Savior (Luke 23:46). A sufferer who has faith in God may pray to Him and leave the problem in His hands (1 Peter 4:19).