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Good Friday, April 22Luke 23:44-49The Death of Jesus
For me, one of the most beautiful parts of the Easter story is the extent to which the human side of Jesus is revealed. From the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross we see a Jesus who is on the one hand authoritative, determined and courageous; and on the other hand a Jesus who is troubled and fearful. He has faithfully followed his father's calling, living the life extolled in the beatitudes and revealing to us the kingdom of God; a journey that has inevitably led him to the humiliation and pain and death of the cross.
Jesus does not approach the cross as a God in human form, supremely confident in the knowledge that in just few hours he will rise from the grave. Rather we see a man, fearful of what lies ahead; but also a man with a faith firmly rooted in the love of his heavenly Father. And it is his faith that overcomes his fear (and ultimately death itself).
Jesus last words are not some grand farewell, neither are they some final message of great import to his followers. Rather they are a simple expression of trust and obedience: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit".
Each of us, at times in our lives, is overcome with worry and doubt, pain and fear. Like Jesus, we are called to "let go" and trust - to rest in the hands of our heavenly Father and know that there is nothing that can separate us from his love and care. Jesus has shown us the way. Bryan Ackland | 
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