From his first breath until his last, Jesus teaches us how to live and how to die. Slowing down brings significance to each moment, transforming them into precious memories. Today, as we draw near the cross and watch Jesus take his last breath, may we begin to understand the importance of every breath and the ultimate gift He gave us.
Luke 23:44-46 says; “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Matthew 27:46 reads; “ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
John 19:28-31 says: “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Now it was the day of Preparation, …”
God uses everything in life and in death for His purpose and glory. Even Jesus’ words, “It is finished,” connect us to our scene from the Last Supper. “This is my blood.” I guess there is no coincidence of it being “the day of Preparation.” Everything we have done so far has been preparing us for this moment.
And all these moments, from the time we take our first breath until the day we breathe our last, are significant. As we reflect on Jesus’ life and death, we begin to see how connected everything really is. Heaven is closer than we realize and Jesus’ death is the only way we might live.
Precious memories, how they linger…
If you have ever watched someone go through the dying process, you know the veil between this life and the next is very thin. We are but a breath away. In those moments, as the person transitions, Heaven (or God) draws close. You return to the place from which you came.
Genesis 2:7 says; “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.”
Whether it is your first breath or your last, that breath is a gift from God. Talk to anyone who struggles with Chronic Bronchitis, COPD or some type of pulmonary disease and they will tell you how precious your breath is. My mother-in-law knew this struggle all too well. For more than twenty years, we watched her fight for each and every breath. Her COPD came from a chemical spill, leaving her lungs damaged beyond repair. As we watched her die, thirteen years ago today, God gave us a memory that we will cherish forever.
I’ll never forget it. She had been in the hospital for nearly a week on a ventilator. Her lungs had finally given up. Although her mind was well aware that her last breath was drawing near. My husband sat with her, hand in hand and promised he would not leave her side. The minutes turned to hours as we all waited.
Immediately following her death, we gathered around, hugging and crying. A family friend approached my husband with tears in his eyes. As he leaned in to hug him, I heard him say, “I am so sorry your mother died on your birthday.” We were oblivious to what day it was. But as my husband responded, in loving-kindness, I was amazed at what happened next.
With sincere appreciation, he said, “My mom didn’t die on my birthday. My mom went to Heaven on my birthday! She is not struggling to breath any more.”
It seems pretty fitting to me that as she was there for his first breath, he was there for her last. Heaven came near that day. So close we were breathing it. It surrounded us like a cloud and carried us through the coming days. I like to think of it this way; our last breath on earth is actually our next breath in heaven.
“In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, … we will be changed.”
In Jesus’ last days on earth, we get to watch him take his last breath. Those closest to him begin to grieve, thinking they will never see him again. But in life and death, Heaven draws near and miraculous things happen. The ones who stayed near through all the pain and agony of the cross understood just how thin that veil really was. And just as Jesus drew his last breath, he knew death was not the end of this story.
Let us pray;
Breathe on me breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life of your eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M
Wanna Go Deeper? As you journey this week, here is the link to A Special Easter Edition. Use it to follow Jesus to the cross and beyond. Watch him take his last breath. Experience the grief those closest to him shared, as they wait, not knowing what comes next. These are our moments. Cherish them all.
Don’t miss the song below. If you cannot see it, open this message from your browser.
3 thoughts on “Lent – our last breath”
He gave His Life that I might live.
Yes!
Thank you! Thank God in all we do! The song was part of my Sunrise service