Sermon Notes
Sermon: To See You Once More: Final Words by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: May 18, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18, and Acts 1:6-11
Sermon Notes:
Last Words
Last words. Karl Marx’s housekeeper urged him to tell her his last words, so that she could write them down for posterity. Marx responded with, “Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” Yet, for most of us, the last words a person says before their death are a sort of fascination for us. Some people want to know one’s last words to look for hints about their will, about the afterlife, or about their final thoughts as death approaches. Maybe we hope to glean a final secret of why someone did what they did or a secret about their life? Maybe we hope for some inspiring wisdom, something we can apply to our own lives? Whatever the reason, we take stock in a person’s final words.
People have a variety of reactions to death. Some are sad. As I was researching the final words of famous people this week, one reoccurring thing I noticed was that if they died of a drug overdose, many times their last words are along the lines of “please don’t leave me”.
Some people in their final moments think of the ones they love the most. T.S. Elliot simply said the name of his wife, Valerie. Joe DiMaggio, who had formerly been married to Marilyn Monroe, said, “I’ll finally get to see Marilyn.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was sitting in his garden with his wife, and he turned to her and said, “You are wonderful.” Then, he clutched his chest and died.
Some people were sarcastic to the very end. Wilson Mizner, who was a successful playwright, was on his deathbed when the priest approached him. The priest said, “I am sure you want to talk to me.” And Wilson answers, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.”
Yet, others simply acknowledge that their death approaches. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, said, “Why do you weep? Did you think I was immortal?” Nostradamus predicted, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” Actor Michael Landon had cancer, and his son said it was time to move on. Michael answered, “You’re right. It’s time. I love you all.”
Some people reflect upon their past and their life. When Sir Isaac Newton died, he said, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world. But as to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” Leonardo da Vinci was also humble and his final words were: “I have offended God and mankind, because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
Yet, others look towards the future, either life after death or giving instructions to those left behind. Evangelist Henry Ward Beecher’s last words were, “Now comes the mystery.” Andrew Jackson’s last words were, “Oh, do not cry – be good children, and we will all meet in heaven.” George Harrison’s last words were, “Love one another.”
Jesus’s Last Words on the Cross
What were Jesus’s last words? Matthew (Mt 27) and Mark (Mk 15) record Jesus’s last words on the cross as, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” John (Jn 19) records Jesus’s last words as “It is finished.” Jesus has fulfilled the prophecy of a coming Messiah, and He has fulfilled God’s plan and purpose for Jesus coming to earth. Just before that, Jesus had made sure that John would care for his mother, Mary. Luke (Lk 23) records Jesus’s final words as “Father, into your hands, I commit my Spirit,” before breathing His last breath. No matter which of the Gospel accounts that you read, we have insight into the final thoughts of Jesus before He died. First, Jesus was thinking of the present suffering with His thirst and feeling abandoned by God. Second, Jesus thought of His life on earth and acknowledged that He had completed all He was meant to do. Third, Jesus was thinking of His loved ones, and He made sure that His mother would be cared for by John, one of His best friends. And, finally, Jesus looked to the future and gave Himself over to God one last time.
We can learn from Jesus’s last words before His death on the cross. Yet, those are not His last words ever. Jesus rose from the dead, and, following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many people and continued teaching them. When we think of Jesus’s last words, we really should think of His final words before His ascension into Heaven. Those are really Jesus’s last words before leaving the earth.
Jesus’s Last Words on Before His Ascension
Jesus is with His beloved apostles, the 11 that are left. His final words to them before He ascended into Heaven are known as the Great Commission. Here are the last words of Jesus before His Ascension into Heaven as recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) states:
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14-18 (ESV) states:
The Great Commission
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Acts 1:6-11 (ESV) states:
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Our Purpose and Mission
In His last words, Jesus provides our mission as Christians. Our purpose is to glorify God, but our mission is to proclaim the Gospel. We are to tell the world all that Jesus Christ did during His ministry on earth and what Jesus did for us. But we are not alone in our mission, Jesus promises to be with us, and He promises that the Holy Spirit will guide us and empower us to complete our mission.
Practically speaking, we are to serve as witnesses. A witness is merely someone who has seen something, and they promise to tell the truth and answer questions about what they have seen. As a witness of Christ, we need to keep these things in mind.
We are given everything we need to accomplish our mission. We have a voice. God has given us abilities, talents, and special gifts. Though it may not always seem like, we have been given the capabilities to form relationships with God and with others. And, in addition to all that, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s own Spirit.
Last words can potentially have great meaning and value. The last words of Jesus on this earth have given us our mission to the end of time. Jesus, the Son of God, used His last words to command us to teach, proclaim, and disciple others about Christ and living for Christ. In His last words, Jesus asked us to serve as witnesses to His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. In return, Jesus promises that we will see Him once more. There will be one more post-resurrection appearance.
Sermon: To See You Once More: Final Words by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: May 18, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-18, and Acts 1:6-11
Sermon Notes:
Last Words
Last words. Karl Marx’s housekeeper urged him to tell her his last words, so that she could write them down for posterity. Marx responded with, “Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.” Yet, for most of us, the last words a person says before their death are a sort of fascination for us. Some people want to know one’s last words to look for hints about their will, about the afterlife, or about their final thoughts as death approaches. Maybe we hope to glean a final secret of why someone did what they did or a secret about their life? Maybe we hope for some inspiring wisdom, something we can apply to our own lives? Whatever the reason, we take stock in a person’s final words.
People have a variety of reactions to death. Some are sad. As I was researching the final words of famous people this week, one reoccurring thing I noticed was that if they died of a drug overdose, many times their last words are along the lines of “please don’t leave me”.
Some people in their final moments think of the ones they love the most. T.S. Elliot simply said the name of his wife, Valerie. Joe DiMaggio, who had formerly been married to Marilyn Monroe, said, “I’ll finally get to see Marilyn.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was sitting in his garden with his wife, and he turned to her and said, “You are wonderful.” Then, he clutched his chest and died.
Some people were sarcastic to the very end. Wilson Mizner, who was a successful playwright, was on his deathbed when the priest approached him. The priest said, “I am sure you want to talk to me.” And Wilson answers, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.”
Yet, others simply acknowledge that their death approaches. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, said, “Why do you weep? Did you think I was immortal?” Nostradamus predicted, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” Actor Michael Landon had cancer, and his son said it was time to move on. Michael answered, “You’re right. It’s time. I love you all.”
Some people reflect upon their past and their life. When Sir Isaac Newton died, he said, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world. But as to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” Leonardo da Vinci was also humble and his final words were: “I have offended God and mankind, because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
Yet, others look towards the future, either life after death or giving instructions to those left behind. Evangelist Henry Ward Beecher’s last words were, “Now comes the mystery.” Andrew Jackson’s last words were, “Oh, do not cry – be good children, and we will all meet in heaven.” George Harrison’s last words were, “Love one another.”
Jesus’s Last Words on the Cross
What were Jesus’s last words? Matthew (Mt 27) and Mark (Mk 15) record Jesus’s last words on the cross as, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” John (Jn 19) records Jesus’s last words as “It is finished.” Jesus has fulfilled the prophecy of a coming Messiah, and He has fulfilled God’s plan and purpose for Jesus coming to earth. Just before that, Jesus had made sure that John would care for his mother, Mary. Luke (Lk 23) records Jesus’s final words as “Father, into your hands, I commit my Spirit,” before breathing His last breath. No matter which of the Gospel accounts that you read, we have insight into the final thoughts of Jesus before He died. First, Jesus was thinking of the present suffering with His thirst and feeling abandoned by God. Second, Jesus thought of His life on earth and acknowledged that He had completed all He was meant to do. Third, Jesus was thinking of His loved ones, and He made sure that His mother would be cared for by John, one of His best friends. And, finally, Jesus looked to the future and gave Himself over to God one last time.
We can learn from Jesus’s last words before His death on the cross. Yet, those are not His last words ever. Jesus rose from the dead, and, following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many people and continued teaching them. When we think of Jesus’s last words, we really should think of His final words before His ascension into Heaven. Those are really Jesus’s last words before leaving the earth.
Jesus’s Last Words on Before His Ascension
Jesus is with His beloved apostles, the 11 that are left. His final words to them before He ascended into Heaven are known as the Great Commission. Here are the last words of Jesus before His Ascension into Heaven as recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) states:
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:14-18 (ESV) states:
The Great Commission
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Acts 1:6-11 (ESV) states:
The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Our Purpose and Mission
In His last words, Jesus provides our mission as Christians. Our purpose is to glorify God, but our mission is to proclaim the Gospel. We are to tell the world all that Jesus Christ did during His ministry on earth and what Jesus did for us. But we are not alone in our mission, Jesus promises to be with us, and He promises that the Holy Spirit will guide us and empower us to complete our mission.
Practically speaking, we are to serve as witnesses. A witness is merely someone who has seen something, and they promise to tell the truth and answer questions about what they have seen. As a witness of Christ, we need to keep these things in mind.
- A witness TELLS about what they have seen and heard.
- What that means for us: We need to SPEAK about what Jesus Christ has done. Lifestyle evangelism and living like Christ serves as an example of what it means to be Christlike. Through how we live our lives, we can serve as a model of Christlike behavior.
- HOWEVER, at some point, we do need to SPEAK. We need to explicitly tell others about Christ and what He has done for us.
- Our job as a witness is to offer evidence or proof of what has happened.
- A witness must tell the TRUTH.
- In a court of law, a witness promises to tell the truth on the stand. If they are found lying on the stand, they can get into trouble. Inherent in the concept of a witness is that concept the truth is being spoken.
- The truth of Christ is found in the Bible.
- We can also be honest about our own life experiences: what God has done in our lives, what has happened to us, and how we have reacted to what has occurred in our lives.
- A witness must be ready to ANSWER questions.
- In a court of law, a witness doesn’t just get up on the stand and tell their story. They have to answer questions, and, most of the time, they don’t know the questions ahead of time.
- This means that we need to pray that God gives us the words.
- But it also means that we need to read and study and learn all we can about God and His Word. It wouldn’t hurt to learn about church history and other denominations, religions, and philosophies as well. We do not need to know everything, but we do need to do some preparation, because we do not know what people will ask us.
- Learning is a life-long process for everyone, and there are so many ways to learn about God.
- Just remember that everything you learn may not always be the truth. Test what you are learning against the Bible. God’s Word is our measure of truth.
We are given everything we need to accomplish our mission. We have a voice. God has given us abilities, talents, and special gifts. Though it may not always seem like, we have been given the capabilities to form relationships with God and with others. And, in addition to all that, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s own Spirit.
Last words can potentially have great meaning and value. The last words of Jesus on this earth have given us our mission to the end of time. Jesus, the Son of God, used His last words to command us to teach, proclaim, and disciple others about Christ and living for Christ. In His last words, Jesus asked us to serve as witnesses to His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. In return, Jesus promises that we will see Him once more. There will be one more post-resurrection appearance.
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