Into Your Hands
Jesus’ last words from the cross were a loud cry of trust, drawn from Psalm 31:5. Discover why that moment, and the strength it took to speak, reveals His victory and complete surrender to the Father.
The sky was dark. The ground had already shaken. The crowd stood watching, some mocking, some weeping, some silent. Jesus hung on the cross, beaten, bleeding, and in agony. Hours had passed since the nails were driven in.
Then, Luke writes, “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.’ And having said this, He died.” (Luke 23:46)
Those words come straight from Psalm 31:5 — “Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.” For generations, Jewish parents taught their children to say this verse as a bedtime prayer. It was a prayer of trust, placing yourself in God’s care for the night.
That means Jesus’ final words were more than a quotation. They were the words of a Son speaking to His Father — a prayer He likely learned as a boy, now spoken as He stepped into death.
But what makes this moment even more powerful is how He said it.
Crucifixion made speaking nearly impossible. The weight of the body pulled down on the chest, making it hard to breathe. To speak, a person had to push themselves up on nailed feet just to get enough air. Every movement sent pain shooting through the body. Most victims, in the final moments, could barely whisper.
Yet Jesus didn’t whisper. He “cried out with a loud voice.”
That loud cry means something. It shows He still had strength, that He was in full control, and that what He had said before was true: “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own.” (John 10:18)
This was not the weak gasp of a man overcome by death. It was the victorious declaration of the One who chose the exact moment to give up His spirit.
His final breath was not defeat — it was trust. Even in the agony of the cross, even with the weight of the world’s sin upon Him, He surrendered fully to the Father’s hands.
That’s the example He leaves us. To live — and die — with complete trust in God.
“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler
I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.
This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.
Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)
