Moment of Meditation: Yielded Spirit (Matthew 27:50)

''And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His Spirit (Matthew 27:50).''

"It is finished" (John 19:30). Jesus cried out with all that He can muster with one of His final breaths. Salvation had been attained. Sin had been atoned for. Jesus had nothing else to live for. He had suffered everything that He needed to suffer to satisfy God's wrath. Then He yielded up His Spirit.

"I have the power to give [My life], and I have the power to take it back again" (John 10:18). Jesus has fulfilled His prophecy. He laid down His life. Three days later, He would take it back up again. '''HE''' yielded up His Spirit. He was not killed. He willed Himself to die. To die for you.

Jesus' death gives you life. His sacrifice is the one that finally appeases God. All the Old Testament sacrifices only pointed to this once-for-all sacrifice. God and man dying for the sin of the world. Because He died, you live. Because He gave Himself up, you are given the keys to the Kingdom. Because He yielded up His Spirit, you are saved by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Amen.