Famous Last Words

THE POINT

What Jesus said during the last days of His bodily ministry says a lot about His view of relationships.

FATHER FORGIVE THEM

Luke 23:33-34 (NIV)
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

FAMILY

John 19:26-27 (NIV)
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son, “and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

YOU WILL BE WITH ME

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

FATHER AND SON

Matthew 27:45-47 (NIV)
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

INTO YOUR HANDS

Luke 23:46 (NIV)
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

IT IS FINISHED

John 19:30 (NIV)
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

SHALOM

John 20:19-23 (NIV)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

FEED MY SHEEP

John 21:17-19 (NIV)
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

MAKE DISCIPLES

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

HOLY SPIRIT POWER

Acts 1:7-8 (NIV)
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO?

·          Begin or deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today.

·          Consider His commandment for us to make disciples from the whole world.  What does that mean to you personally?
Receive the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s calling on your life.