Luke is the only Gospel writer to report the last of the Lord’s seven sayings on the cross. It is, however, implied in John’s statement that Christ bowed His head and then gave up His spirit. This is not the Holy Spirit but His own human spirit, although everything He did was done in the power of the Holy Spirit—but that is another matter. Luke emphasizes the human side of things and shows that, once Christ’s work was completed, the separation between God and Him had passed. Luke records what happened after the three dark hours were completed: the fellowship between God and the Man Christ Jesus was restored.

With full confidence, He commits His spirit into the Father’s care. Here the Father is Father of the Man Christ Jesus. At the same time, He is the Father of the Son, in the sense of the eternal relationship that could not be disturbed or broken by the three hours of darkness. These things are beyond our comprehension.

Luke also draws our attention to the results of all that had taken place in those six solemn hours: “So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’” (Lk. 23:47). One prominent theme in Luke’s writings is the praise and glory of God, brought to Him by redeemed human beings. The details about the centurion are important, not only because of his testimony that the Lord Jesus was a righteous Man, but also that this officer glorified God. To do this, he must have become a believer. In this day of grace, God receives glory from believers, but in the world to come, and at the great white throne judgment, every knee will bow.