Scripture
Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

Observation
Jesus is on the cross. At noon, darkness covers the land for three hours. Jesus calls out, “My God, why have you abandoned me?”

Jesus shouts again and releases His Spirit. At that moment, the curtain in the temple is torn from top to bottom, there is an earthquake, and many godly people are raised from the dead.

The centurion overseeing the crucifixions declares, “This man is truly the Son of God.”

Application
Jesus should never be seen as a victim of the crucifixion at the hands of human beings. He willingly went to the cross out of love for all humanity.

Jesus did not die on the cross due to the horrendous physical injuries he experienced. No, he “released his spirit.”

While many observers taunted Jesus with the demand to save himself by coming down from the cross, there was a very different goal in view. Jesus could have easily released himself from the cross. He could have summoned angels to come and minister to Him.

It was Jesus’ voluntary submission to death, despite being the Immortal son of God, that bought our salvation .

Jesus died to give us life.

That is the simple exchange of the Cross .

His death is my life.

His suffering is my atonement.

His humiliation is my vindication.

Prayer
Lord, words are not enough to express my love to you, nor to respond to your love to me. Thank you. Amen.