Last Words

               Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4).

            This verse is found in what we call the “Ascension of the Lord”. A dramatic and amazing scenario where one minute Jesus is talking to His disciples, and the next moment he is headed up into the clouds, reunited with God the Father, leaving the disciples as awestruck jaw-dropped star gazers staring up into the sky.

            I think the words recorded in the first eight verses of Acts are very important. Granted, everything Jesus said was important, but there is a finality of these words. These are the last recorded words that we have that Jesus spoke here on earth.

            Last words are important.

            Nathan Hale’s last reported words were “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”. Those are powerful last words that have rung throughout the annuls of history giving hope and courage to many.

            As John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, lay on his bed breathing his last breath, he said “the best of all, God is with us”. Words of encouragement to others from a man who was encouraged by the ever abiding presence of his Lord.

            Blues singer Bessie Smith said, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord”.

            I have been with some saints of the Lord when they took their last breath, with no more words to say here in this life.

            Jesus’ last words are found compiled together by the writer Luke in Acts 1:4-5; 7-8. Last words are important.

            Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem. This is also why he told them to stay in this city (verse 4). Jerusalem had been a difficult place for them over the last month. They had seen Jesus beaten and crucified, dead and buried. They had denied even knowing Jesus at times. They ran for safety when they could have been by His side. There were even those in the city that would kill them if they could. Jerusalem was dangerous for these disciples, and full of regrets of past mistakes and failures. Yet this is exactly the place Jesus told them to stay. Why?

            First, this is where they would receive “power”. This power came about a week later and is recorded in Acts 2. You should read this awesome story today too. But also I think this showed them that Jesus is bigger than their denials. Jesus is bigger than their mistakes. Jesus is bigger than their regrets. Jesus is bigger than their sins. And guess what? Jesus is bigger than all your denials, mistakes, regrets, and sins too! Maybe your Jerusalem is where you are today, and maybe all that you can think about is getting out of here. But maybe Jesus has you here for a reason. And if you trust Him and seek His direction, He will show you that reason, and allow you to be His witness here and now.

            Then Jesus told His disciples to be His witness in Judea. Judea is where most of them lived. It was home. Sometimes being a witness at home is the most difficult for me. These are the people that know the real me, my imperfections, my weaknesses, my hypocrisy. Yet to be an effective witness for Jesus elsewhere, it has to start at home. What are you doing this week to show the love of Christ in your own home and with your own family?

            Then Jesus said to be His witness in Samaria. This was tough for those that read Jesus’ words in the first century. Samaria was not a region that was thought very highly of. The people who lived there, the Samaritans, were often looked on as second-class people. They were thought to be the inbred uneducated offspring of a “pure” people. Obviously Jesus didn’t think so. And He told the disciples to go to them and love them. Do you have a Samaria? I suppose that if we are honest we all do. People that we don’t really like or agree with. So, Jesus says go to them, not to condemn, not to judge, but to witness in love.

            Last words are important. Of course, there is really no “last” words. Given that we are eternal beings in a temporary body, there are only words that will be our last here in this life. We will be speaking words for eternity, words of adoration, words of thankfulness, words of love, words of praise and honor.

            What will be your “last” words here on earth? I know we don’t like to think about that. But don’t allow your last words to be words of regret, or words of doubt, or words of denial.  May we all say “the best of all, God is with us!”