Final words impact us – maybe it is the final words of a dear family member that we remember, or the words of a favorite president or historical figure, or a retiring pastor, or the final words of a teacher as a semester ends. In all these instances, people will listen for the final words and often seek to remember what was said, a gesture made, or what is whispered in an embrace. Sometimes, when a family member is taken from us unexpectantly, we remember the final words in a phone call or unknown final interaction. In full-time ministry for over 25 years, I remember many of those moments with specific individuals where I have heard final words. To say the least, they have impacted me.
The Gospel of John does not capture every detail of Jesus’ final days; however, John does provide the final public words of Jesus in John’s Gospel as well as the final words before His death to the disciples privately. To help us in our walk with Jesus this week, I want to share His final public words in the Gospel of John as a means to highlight Jesus’ priorities for daily living.
Jesus’ Final Public Message in the Gospel of John
Here is the last recorded public message of Jesus in the Gospel.
Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:44-50)
With these words, John wraps us Jesus’ public ministry.
What Can We Learn from These Words?
Allow me to leave you on this Easter week with a bullet-point list of priorities you find in Jesus’ final words.
- Jesus came as a light so that people did not have to remain in darkness. This is a theme throughout the Gospel of John.
- Hearing Jesus’ words is not enough. Each person must hear and believe Jesus’ words for eternal life.
- Jesus came to save the world, not to condemn the world. Final judgment depends upon whether or not you believed Jesus.
- Jesus did not speak specifically for Himself, but, instead, for the Father.
What a joy to know read through Jesus’ final words. He emphasized the possibility of salvation, that He was the light, and what we must do for eternal life. In His final public words in the Gospel of John, Jesus emphasized the necessity of believing or belief.
This Easter week, may we also be focused on helping others believe, helping them see the light of Jesus in a dark world, and rejoicing in our own walk in the light. From this, we receive great hope as we also walk in the light.
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