My Apologies that these did not get posted this weekend. Due to some technical difficulties they never made it online. I am posting them now because these students did a tremendous job and I wanted to share their work.
Resurrection Week: SUNDAY
Maddie Willoughby (11th Grade, Seven Lakes)
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46
Submitting to God’s will is not easy. Trusting in God’s plan can be difficult. All Christians can struggle with this. Jesus, however, provides a perfect example that encourages us and gives us confidence to submit to and trust in God.
As Jesus was dying on the cross, He demonstrates overflowing amounts of trust in his relationship with God. Jesus, in Luke 23:46, with great confidence, called out to God “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. Jesus just announced that he is voluntarily submitting Himself to God, God’s will, and God’s kingdom. Because of this, we see how much trust Jesus was putting in God and His plan for salvation. To fully give up His own life, in order to save us from our sins, and willingly submit His whole spirit to God takes major amounts of trust.
The act of dying on the cross was not easy, not simple, and definitely not painless. Jesus was mocked in the street and spit at. He was beaten and whipped. He had nails going through his hands and feet in order
to be held up lifelessly on the cross. He was made fun of and yelled at while hanging defenselessly as a crown of thorns got placed on His head. Lastly, Jesus knew he was about to die. The great amount of pain and hardship Jesus was willing to go through portrays the huge amount of trust He had in God. Jesus knew there was a purpose for what he was going through; that the reward would be great; that the pain and suffering would be worth it.
How many times have you said “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”? How many times have you been willing to submit yourself wholly to God? Even as believers, completely giving yourself to God can be difficult. There could be something in your life you place in front of God. Maybe you’re afraid or unsure of what will happen if you submit to God. Or it could be you don’t have the desire or confidence to give yourself up to God like that.
All that is certain for followers of Christ is that God expects us to willingly and fully submit ourselves to Him. It is easier to submit when we know we can trust in God and God’s perfect plan. Jesus knew God’s plan, trusted in His Father, and willing submitted even to the point of death.
