April 11 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 23:44-56:

⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
⁴⁸And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
⁵²This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Devotional

Jesus did not die of exhaustion, or of weakness, or of a broken heart. He had strength enough left to cry with a loud voice. He voluntarily gave his life. He said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." He did not die because He could not help himself; but He willingly gave his life a ransom for many. And when his work was accomplished, He committed his spirit into the hands of his loving heavenly Father. Death had no power over him.

Now all those that are ransomed by him have this comfort. They, too, may commit their spirit into the hands of their heav­enly Father, when the hour of their departure is at hand. Even the psalmist of old knew of this comfort. He could say, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." And we have no doubt that this word sustained Jesus when He was about to die. Stephen, when he was being stoned to death by his enemies, called upon God saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." What a manifestation of God's grace! What a comfort for all believers! O death, where is thy sting? Christ is the prince of life. He said "Because I live, ye shall live also."

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee, that Jesus Christ conquered death; that He through his death destroyed him that had the power of death, and delivered them who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. We thank Thee for the assurance, that after death we shall for ever be with the Lord. Strengthen our faith, and pardon our sins. For Christ's sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Luke 23:46; John 10:11, 18; Matt. 20:23; Ps. 31:5; Acts 7:59; 3:15; John 14:19.

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