“Last Words”

How important are last words?  The final utterances of famous and renowned people have fascinated humanity almost from the beginning of recorded human history.

Now comes the mystery.
~~ Henry Ward Beecher, evangelist

All my possessions for a moment of time.
~~ Elizabeth I, Queen of England

Turn up the lights, I don't want to go home in the dark.
~~ O. Henry (William Sidney Porter), writer

Let us cross over the river and sit in the shade of the trees
~~ General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.
~~ Leonardo da Vinci, artist,

I die hard but am not afraid to go.
~~ George Washington, US President

God is the Lord by whom we escape death.
~~ Martin Luther

“Lord lay not this sin to their charge.”
~~ Stephen

Jesus’ actual last words were seven utterances He made from the cross while dying on Calvary. However, scholars are all agreed that His final teachings or “last words” are found in the Last Supper Discourses, addressed to his Disciples in the upper room (Chapters 13-14) and possibly on the road to Gethsemane (Chapters 15-17) see 14:31. John alone records these teachings in his Gospel as we should remember that his purpose in writing was not biographical but rather theological. John 20:30, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The teaching of Jesus as faithfully recorded by the four evangelists are presented in stages with each succeeding stage accomplishing a different goal, unique from the others. The Sermon on the Mount, a series of instructions given to His closest followers at the start of His ministry proclaimed the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” This served as a “differentiation” of the Old and New Covenants. The parables and allegories of His daily teachings in the Temple courts and in the countryside were proclaimed to large audiences, growing each day. These were the explanation, illustration and illumination of the “Gospel” (euangelion) He proclaimed. Only those who had “ears to hear” understood.

The “Last Supper Discourses” which we shall study are again with an “intimate” group of hearers and are specifically targeted at them as the ones who would carry on the mission after His removal. They are the very culmination and application of this “Gospel of the Kingdom” which would ultimately (when embraced) change people's lives. In order to obey His commands, we must know what they are and the demands they place upon our lives as His disciples of this era. In order to know what He has commanded we must study carefully His teaching found in the records of His life. In order to study and learn the Gospel teachings, we must understand their purpose with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who lives in us.

In order to truly “know” Christ and live “in” Him, we must know more than just information about him, we must know His commands and live by them. Ultimately if the lost will know our Jesus we must know Him and to know Him we must keep His commandments. "If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15