Creator, Father, King #233

Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”

IN YESTERDAY’S DEVOTION, WE learned that Jesus’ death was necessary because human sin and God’s holiness cannot coexist. Atonement was required for our sins to be forgiven and God’s justice to be met.

Some people, however, view the Crucifixion as a form of cosmic child abuse. They accuse God of being a coldhearted, manipulative deity who put his Son through the horrors of Roman execution unnecessarily when much less was needed.

Nothing could be further from the truth. But since this heretical theory exists, we must address it—and debunk it—with Scripture.

What’s It Mean?

First, these false teachers don’t understand the nature of the Trinity. The Father could never abuse the Son because that would cause discord within the Godhead, defying all Scripture. The Father, Son, and Spirit are beautifully One God in three distinct Persons. They are perfectly unified, functioning in complete agreement with each other (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 13:14). Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30).

Jesus also went to the Cross willingly. He said, “I sacrifice [my life] voluntarily” (John 10:18). He predicted his death many times and resolutely traveled to Jerusalem, the place of his execution (Mark 10:32; Luke 9:53). He did not go kicking and screaming.

What’s more, if the Crucifixion really was an abominable form of divine child abuse, why would Jesus entrust his spirit to God before dying (today’s verse)? Jesus’ last words don’t speak of a distrustful, abusive relationship. They point to a beautiful unity and eternal purpose stretching far beyond human understanding.

God’s wrongful accusers also apparently forget what God did to honor his Son after the Resurrection, exalting Jesus above heaven and earth (Philippians 2:9-11). Finally, these people misunderstand the gravity of their own corruption. Human sin required the blood of God incarnate for redemption—nothing less.

The triune God did not owe us anything. Yet he graciously gave up his own Son to purchase our salvation. Don’t misjudge his motives in this. He didn’t sacrifice Jesus out of callousness or cruelty, but out of abounding love for us (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1), and Christ willingly obeyed—not out of compulsion, but out of his own great love for his people (Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 3:16). Praise the Lord!

Now What?

Check out Psalm 31:5 to see the parallels between David’s psalm and today’s verse. Jesus was quoting Old Testament Scripture!

Did You Know?

Jesus is not God’s child in an earthly way. He is the “Son of God” in the sense of humbly submitting to his “Suffering Servant” role (Isaiah 52:13–53:12), as a human son would obey his father.