SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:44-49
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
We live because God’s breath (Spirit) breathes in us.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
When we choose to reject God, we reject life; the curse of our sin is death.
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)
Jesus gives up His God-given breath… but wait, He was not guilty of sin?
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man. (Luke 23:47)
For the first time since humanity bit into the fruit of Satan’s lie, a human has resisted sin and Satan.
Jesus breaks the bondage of sin, and takes the curse of sin; Satan’s grip is broken.
The just judgment of rebellion is paid (‘you will certainly die’), Satan’s claim against us is lost.
The separation between us and God (symbolized in the temple with a large, thick curtain) is torn apart.
So much is happening in this short passage; history is being corrected, creation and humanity are being restored.
“For when you eat from My will, you will certainly live!”
After the last piece is put in place – the resurrection – Adam is restored to His throne!
In Jesus, Adam is back in charge, and this creation – God’s kingdom – is back under our legitimate authority.
Seeing all this, we do not need to “beat our breasts” in despair, but clap our hands in joy!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, this was no ordinary death, and You were no ordinary man. Everything changes at this moment, and now because of You, everything is being made new! Awesome!