The GT Weekend! ~ Mission Week 3
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Luke 23:44-46
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
The Original Intent
1) What is significant about the sixth hour and the ninth hour?
In biblical times, the sixth hour would have been noon, and the ninth hour would have been 3:00pm. Darkness fell over the whole land from noon until 3:00.
During the brightest time of the day, there was darkness!
Darkness like we could never imagine.
God, hanging dead on a tree.
The Everyday Application
1) What is significant about the sixth hour and the ninth hour?
Sometimes, life seems dark in the middle of the day. Life is hard!!
When I think of how God was doing His greatest work in this darkness, it reminds me that darkness doesn’t mean that God isn’t present, that He isn’t working.
When your life seems dark, hang on because God is working on your behalf, saving you from yourself. Daylight is there in the midst of your darkness. Just keep your eyes fixed on the cross.
The Original Intent
2) What is the significance of the veil tearing?
In the temple, there was a veil that hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. In the Holy of Holies, the glory of God hovered above the Ark of the Covenant. The veil separated the presence of God from everyone. Only one time a year could a priest enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the nation of Israel. They would tie a rope around his ankle with a bell on it. If the bell jingled, then they would know the priest had died, and they would drag his body out of the Holy of Holies so no one else would have to go in after him and die too. The veil was the only way to get into the presence of God.
The Everyday Application
2) What is the significance of the veil tearing?
Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
When Jesus’ flesh was torn, the veil was torn. Just as the veil was the only way to enter into God’s presence in the temple, Christ is the only way to enter into God’s presence today (John 14:6). The veil was torn from ceiling to floor showing us God is the one who made a way for us through Christ into His presence.
The Original Intent
3) What did Christ mean when He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”?
Christ said this and then breathed His last.
He died.
He was sending His spirit back to His Father, back where He came from, back to Heaven.
He was committing His spirit to God. He trusted the Father with His life.
The Everyday Application
3) What did Christ mean when He said, ”Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”?
I went to Israel a few years back, and my favorite place was the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there Christ surrendered His will to the will of the Father, knowing He would soon surrender His life and His spirit to the Father. The fact that Jesus trusted God with His whole life speaks volumes to me. He trusted God with His decisions, with His emotions, with His whole being.
Do you trust God that way?
Jesus didn’t want to die, but He knew God was good and that He had a plan. He trusted God’s plan even though it didn’t feel good as He was hanging there on that cross. Do you trust God when you’re hurting? When life seems dark? Can you commit your spirit to Him?
The Original Intent
4) Did He really breathe His last?
Some would debate this. Some would say that Jesus simply passed out and was later resuscitated. However, we learn from John 19:33-34 that, rather than break Jesus’ legs to ensure His death, the Roman soldiers believed He was already dead, so they pierced His side. When they did, blood and water came out. First off, the Roman soldiers dealt with death on a daily basis. They would know the signs of life and death. They clearly believed He was dead, so they did not break His legs.
Second, when they pierced His side, blood and water flowed. We know today that this is a clear sign of death due to pericardial effusion (fluid built up around the heart due to hypovolemic shock caused by the beating He endured prior to crucifixion) and pleural effusion (fluid built up around the lungs after shock and cardiac arrest.) This is a sure sign of death. He breathed His last on Friday, but Sunday was coming…
The Everyday Application
4) Did He really breathe His last?
OH NO HE DIDN’T!!!!
I can’t even imagine how the disciples felt as they watched their beloved teacher take His last breath. The agony that they endured those three days that He was in the grave.
The waiting… But we, too, are waiting!
Waiting for His glorious return. Waiting for Him to ride in on His white horse. Sometimes, in the waiting, we forget He is coming back.
HE IS ALIVE!!! He’s not dead! The tomb is empty!! I saw it with my own two eyes. I believe He’s getting His horse all bridled up as we speak. He is coming!! Are you ready?
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