CAN YOU COMMIT UNTO DEATH

‘CAN YOU COMMIT EVEN UNTO DEATH’

　"Luke 23:46(NASB) "⁴⁶And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last."

After having read the above portion of scripture any child of God should understand from this passage of scripture, the concept of commitment, for how can you embrace a relationship or a cause, if you are afraid to commit to it! It’s very clear reading this passage and others that have all led up to this point Eg. turning water into wine at the marriage feast, being tempted and tried in the wilderness, yet He stayed committed, His disciples went to sleep on Him in the garden of Gethsemane, as He prayed and "His sweat became as drops of blood" Luke 22:44, piercing Him in His side, and He yet stayed committed! Therefore, there should be no denying that Jesus has been the epitome of tenacity (commitment), even though He had in the flesh voiced to His Father that He wanted the cup to pass from Him, but the committed God man, expresses "not My will, but your will be done"; ref. Luke 22:42. Jesus’ loyalty and faithfulness to His Dad, the God our Father; and to His assignment to be the propitiation, the Pascal Lamb, the ultimate sacrifice, for all of mans sins.  Jesus having completed all of His assignments, He has one last thing to do, on this side of the river if you will, some might even dare to say Jesus is about to take His final exam; and the results of the exam will be posted early resurrection Sunday morning; Jesus is now ready to give up the ghost. It is Here when you hear His last saying without hesitation or reservation the resounding implication with conviction that I trust you Dad (Father God), so much that I give you My spirit, My Life, and I commit it to You!

 Just for a moment I would like to talk about committing or some might say commitment! When looking at some relationships in our own day and time, we will see far too many have lost their value and meaning. Couples are facing relationship problems on a daily basis due to a variety of reasons. When we talk about commitment issues in men and women alike, it means that they are afraid or unable to maintain a steadfast commitment to their covenant partner. Even if the love one has for the other says I am ready to marry you, and spend the rest of my life with you, there is this phobia in the other, stopping him or her from making a lifetime promise or covenant to the other.
     Commitment is a word, which men and women of today far too often don't have in their vocabulary. Commitment has to do with and is associated with such things as a sincere promise (covenant), assurance (confidence), and responsibility (trust). Fostering healthy relationship demands constant care, nurturing, and love from both partners. However, men or women who are suffering from this phobia have a different set of emotions every time. They can be very mushy at times and surprise you with gestures of endearment. But whenever you want to have a serious talk about a committed future together, they will probably start a fight over a petty reason and end the conversation. We must take our lessons from the Lord Himself, who came here to redeem us by doing what His Father asked Him to do; for it is very clear in scripture: John 4:34(NASB) ³⁴Jesus said^* to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. John 6:37-39(NASB) ³⁷"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. ³⁸"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. Therefore all who belong to the Lord have this hope and expectation that when we have had our final exam, and the results are posted He will raise all those who have stayed committed!

Luke 23:26-56 God Triumphs over Injustice

So the innocent died, while a criminal was freed. This snapshot is important regarding Jesus’ death as He prepares to face His departure. Next a second image of the of Jesus’ death follows. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One is arrogant and with attitude who feels even in the face of death he will have one more last hurrah, but the other believes and accepts responsibility for his actions, and because of his acceptance and ultimate repentance he receives the promise of life in paradise at that very moment. Notice these images which post a picture of division of opinion and of eternal fate, which Jesus brings. The last comment made at the cross was by a centurion solder who confesses the righteousness of Jesus, rendering the final word at the scene of the cross Luke 23:47. You must see how Luke made clear that Jesus died unjustly, yet in the face of injustice God still works in His commitment towards the Father and to all that the Father has given Him. Luke describes Jesus’ death with Old Testament allusions that picture Jesus as an innocent sufferer who relied on God, in essence He could trust His Father God, my question is at this point; ‘can God trust you’? (23:26-56; Pss 19; 22:8-9; 31:6; 69:22). The injustice is transcended in God’s plan through the coming resurrection.

     Who are you commending your spirit to? This question will be answered by all one way or the other, either you will commit to the power of His resurrection as spelled out in Philippians 3:10-11(NLT) "¹⁰I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, ¹¹so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead"!      Do Not become a part of that group that when Jesus was being committed to His Father’s will He came to their town, their church, their house, and heard what He had to say and ignored His teaching and warnings. Therefore as a result this group will be told the following words: Luke 13:22-28(NLT) ²²Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. ²³Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He replied, ²⁴"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. ²⁵When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ²⁶Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
²⁷And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ ²⁸"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.

In closing I submit to you again this question: CAN YOU COMMIT EVEN UNTO DEATH’? We often hear the words of this song, to be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, oh how I long to be like Him, so meek and lowly, so humble and Holy, oh how I long to be like Him. If we are truly determined to be like Jesus, we will be committed as He was; even unto death, and death on the cross. Be encouraged to stay committed in spite of what is going on around you that you seem to have no hope, but remember this our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood, and His righteousness, and we must not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name, for it is on Christ the solid rock we must stand, for all other grounds or sinking sand!!!!!!