“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. And having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” --Lk 23:42 After Jesus had shouted “It is finished “, He then surrendered His spirit to His Father and died. He bowed His head, as if in sleep, and “gave up the ghost “. No one killed Jesus. He had said no man takes His life from Him (Jn 10:18). He voluntarily gave up the ghost, offered Himself of His own free will, to be the sacrifice for our sins. When He died, the sin penalty was paid in full, our pardon purchased, our redemption secured for those who believe on Christ.
His death was His doing.
HE gave up the ghost; not someone took the ghost from Him. And this “gave up the ghost” was for a divine objective. The word “ghost” used in the King James means “to breathe out one’s life”. In the creation of man, God breathed out His breath of life into Adam to give Adam life. On Calvary, Jesus breathed out His last breath of life to give us a new life in Him. New life to those who repent and believe on Him.
In Jn 20:22, a resurrected Jesus breathed on the disciples. Has He breathed on you? Do you have His spiritual breath of life in your soul? You have His physical breath in your body, but to live forever you must take in His spiritual breath. When you do, you will receive the Holy Spirit and the eternal life God desires you to have.
