Good Friday April 3, 2026
“Powerful Words” Luke 23:44-46
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 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 23:44-46)
It was just a few days ago when I realized that I had had a few good chances to say “Amen” and get out of the pulpit – but I resisted that urge and stayed in there. But when I saw one of our faithful parishioners looking at their watch, I realized that I had worn out my welcome.
Non-verbal communication is a powerful way to express what you are trying to say. If someone crosses their arms when you are talking, I don’t think they are just trying to stay warm. Yawning is a good way to say, “I’m bored.” When you can see someone’s eyes they will tell you if they are intense or engaged, sympathetic or angry.
It was Good Friday and the non-verbal communication that God spoke during that day was meant to be heard. At noon the sun stopped shining. That darkness lasted until 3:00. God was speaking volumes by creating an eerie scenario. And then the curtain in the Jewish temple was torn in two – from top to bottom. What was God saying at that moment?
The contrast between darkness and light is found throughout Scripture. On the first day of creation, the first Sunday that God gave us, we read that “darkness was over the face of the deep”. And then God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (See Genesis 1:3-4)
Light is portrayed as something brilliant, illuminating – physically and spiritually. In John’s Gospel we read about God’s Son coming to this world. It is a picture of light coming into darkness. We read, “Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:3-5)
In John 9 when Jesus healed the man that was born blind, He used that opportunity to say, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5) What happened when Jesus was born? The angels, bearers of light, filled the sky. What happened when Jesus rose from death? The angels came and Luke’s Gospel says, “Suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside the women.” (Luke 24:4) At His transfiguration, “the face of Jesus shown like the sun, and his clothes became as bright as the light.” (See Matthew 17:2)
But from 12-3, the sixth hour to the ninth hour, “The sun stopped shining.” Why? God was speaking. Darkness, evil, man’s plot against God was visible, so to speak. Jesus had said about this, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19-20) Many people say that they see God in nature. That is true. That day God could be seen and heard by the darkness in God’s creation. God’s Son was dying and would soon die.
God continued to speak through non-verbal’s on that Friday. “And the curtain on the temple was torn in two.” The curtain in the temple in Jerusalem prevented anyone from looking at the face of God, so to speak. Between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place was a thick curtain. It ran from the floor to the ceiling on the temple which was 15 stories high. For years the Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant, the place of God’s presence. The High Priest only on special and high and holy days could enter the Holy of Holies. No one else could.
But then, on that day, on the day when God accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The way into God’s presence was open. Through His Son we now have access into God’s presence. What, for years, had not been possible, was now available to all. Hebrews, a book written to the Jews, says of this opening, Jesus did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12) In a longer section, also from Hebrews, notice how the path to the Father is made for us, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19-23)
And then after a word of sorrow in the darkness and a word of invitation at the rending of the curtain, there was a spoken word by Jesus. It was a word of trust and confidence. “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) Those are powerful words. When Jesus was in the Garden He spoke time-after-time, “Not my will, but Father, your will be done.” Is there any better place for Jesus to be than in the hands of His Father?
Is there any better place for us to be than in the hands of our Father? Trust that Jesus has brought light into your world. Jesus has restored your soul. He has brought you peace. He has removed the barrier between us with our sin and God with His holiness. He has given you faith. You are His own child.
Maybe the most powerful words you can say are, “Father, into Your hands, I commit my spirit.” “Lord, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” “Lord, not my will but yours be done.”
Words are powerful. Some are spoken and some aren’t. God spoke powerful words that day. Jesus spoke powerful words that day. And so do we, through God’s Spirit that gives us faith in all of God’s words. Amen!!
