Matthew 27:50

Appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes things just don’t look the way that they really are. As Jesus hung on the cross at the culminating point of all time, it appeared that he was the loser, the one defeated. But how different is the truth – Jesus died victoriously.

It was God’s plan from eternity that his Son should die.  That crucial moment of history is simply recorded with the words: “He gave up his spirit.”  Jesus willingly and freely gave up his life.  Life wasn't wrenched away from him.  His spirit left his body when it was ready to.  Only the God-man could do that. In the case of every human being, God takes the spirit from the body at the time which he has determined. As true God, Jesus gave up his spirit. He was in control at all times - even in death, so that everything would be perfectly fulfilled for the salvation of the world.  Only after he suffered in body and soul all that was necessary for salvation, did Jesus give us his spirit. When all was finished, he bowed that sacred head and died victoriously.

The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ drives home to us the seriousness of our sin. We try to minimize it, excusing it as a flaw or mistake. Often we will try to justify our sinful actions: “I wasn’t feeling well” or “They deserved it” or “I couldn’t help it.”

However, when we stand before the cross of Christ, we see how God regards it. He is serious when he says that sin brings down his wrath and punishment – the ghastly experience of being forsaken by God. That’s how hopeless death would be for us, if it had not been for Jesus’ death. His death changed our deaths. Jesus bore the wrath and punishment of God for our sins. Now death for us does not mean a separation from God eternally.  Instead, trusting in Jesus, death is a gateway to eternal life and fellowship with the heavenly Father.

Jesus’ death has changed death forever. Jesus’ victorious death resulted in our reconciliation to God so that we can live in hope and die in confidence that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.