Words of a Dying Man

A focused look at the hours before Jesus’ death reveals a time of intensified instructions to the Apostles. John shows us the present mindset of Christ: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (13:1). Starting at this place, and just looking within the gospel account of John, what were some of His last words of admonition, edification, encouragement, and warning – His final marching orders, if you will – before His betrayal?

Be A Servant (John 13:3-17)

Jesus humbles Himself from Master to Servant, washes His disciples’ feet, and blows their minds. He impresses on them what is at the heart of true leadership. They needed to know that when they met adversity, they needed to have already ‘checked their egos at the door.’

Love One Another (John 13:31-35)

Knowing that the hand of fear and persecution would come upon them soon, Jesus instructs the Apostles to love one another. Difficulties would certainly divide the sheep from the goats. So, He exhorted them to secure the seal of true discipleship, their love for one another.

Look To The Reward (John 14:1-6)

Hardship has a tendency of blinding us to anything but the present moment. The Apostles needed a reminder that their sight needed to be eternal, not temporal. They are reminded that, no matter what is before them at the present moment, there is a place prepared for them in eternity. And they are to set their gaze upon it.

Abide In Christ (John 15:1-17)

When the pressures of life would begin to crush them to the ground, the disciples’ inclination or instinct would be just like ours; they would try to bear that load alone. Jesus’ vine analogy drove home the point that their sustenance, strength, and wisdom came from Him. He did not expect them (or us) to face things on their own.

I Am Sending Help (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:12-15)

Adding to the assurance that Jesus would sustain and supply what they (and we) need, He promises the coming of a Helper. Just as Jesus had been their guide and instructor, the Holy Spirit would come to guide them into all truth, and remind them of what He had said. While their physical Teacher would leave them, they would have a spiritual Teacher, Who would be able to guide and instruct exponentially more than Jesus had, being able to help anyone at any time at any place, as the will of the Lord saw fit.

Be Unified (John 17:6-26)

Dove-tailing with the command to love, Jesus prays for the unity of His disciples (and of us) in their presence, just before His betrayal. This beautiful prayer articulates that when we abide in Christ, we are at one with Him, just as He is at one with the Father. Further, if we are in Him, we are at one with each other. We have an eternal, spiritual connection with each other and with God, when we have put on Christ.

Be Unashamed (John 18:1-11)

At the moment of His betrayal, Jesus asked those coming to arrest Him, “Whom are you seeking” (v. 4)? When they said His name, He said, “I am He” (v. 5, 8)? He did not run and hide or deflect their question. He boldly stood firm in His identity. And, even when the figurative mob is coming to take us away, we can stand firm in the identity of Christ as well.

-Cary Gillis D. Min.

March 26, 2021