Luke 23:44-49 - Reconciled through Christ

At the birth of Jesus, the dark and black night sky was brightened by a unique star. And thirty three years later, at His death, the bright noon sky of Jerusalem was engulfed by darkness caused by a thick dark cloud. Luke tells us that for three hours the whole land was covered by darkness. At a time when the sun was shining at its strongest, its bright radiance was prevented from coming through. From 12 noon till three in the afternoon, a dark cloud like a thick curtain obscured the sun. And in that three hours of darkness, the sin of humanity was poured out upon the Son of God on the cross. 

While the cloud like a curtain covered the light, the thick curtain of the temple that darkened the Holy of Holies and prevented access into it, was rendered asunder. Light shone through the Holy of Holies that afternoon, but Judgment on Jerusalem had begun. But the torn curtain that covered the Holy of Holies was a joyous spiritual sign. It signaled that entrance into God's presence was made accessible to all through Christ. That which was only accessible to the high priest once a year, could now be entered by all, and accessible at any time, through Christ. 

Pertaining to the prayers that Christ made whilst on the cross, the other Gospels recorded several. But only Luke recorded the one where He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” It was with this prayer that Christ yielded His Spirit, and drew His last breath and died. This last prayer was intentionally put in by Luke. It's because most who went on the cross just slipped feebly into death in an unconscious state. But Christ with a fully conscious and lucid mind, shouted victoriously in His dying moment. Had He chosen to stay longer, death could not prevent Him. He was in control. He chose the time to give up His Spirit.

No wonder even a centurion, who had the experience of seeing many being crucified, and could heartlessly put countless criminals to death on the cross, couldn't help but marveled at Christ. Luke said he began to praise God. Never had any of his victims ever faced death unjustly. And never had one ever faced this sort of cruel punishments and death without flinching. Christ was and would be the only one. Hence, in praising God, he also duly exclaimed, “Certainly this man was innocent.” Christ's death brought hope. And that ray of hope began to shine through that afternoon with the crowd. They observed the whole proceedings and went away lamenting and dramatically beating their breasts. This signaled the start of their conviction. Many would come to faith later (in the book of Acts).

Meanwhile, some of Jesus' devastated followers came with Him all the way from Galilee and stood at a distance to witness the whole episode. These would soon be receiving reports of His resurrection as He told them it would happen.

It is so true that:
We owe a debt we could not pay
He (Jesus) paid a debt that He did not owe

Therefore, it is only right that we must live  wholeheartedly according to the words of the chorus of a hymn that say:
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow,
Where He leads me I will follow.
I'll go with Him, with Him,
All the way.