If one searches the internet, one can find several lists of some famous last words given by people right before they died. Scanning these lists we can find some very interesting last words. Sometimes these are important words, sometimes confusing or just nonsense. Last words aren’t always given before a death. Here in the U.S., and in several other countries high schools and universities often have a valedictorian who gives a type of farewell speech at the graduation ceremonies. In the past, before the days of computer zoom chats, or even telephones and quick travel, if a family member or friend moved any great distance away, it was quite conceivable that they would never see or talk to one another again. The moment of their parting would be a type of last, final words. These last words can be important, and words to treasure. In our Scripture today we read of Jesus’ physical parting from His disciples, and the final, last words He spoke to them. Let’s take a look at what Jesus chose to say before He physically left earth.
On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. For forty days following His resurrection, He met and taught His followers (vs. 1-3). During these days Jesus taught His disciples everything necessary to carry on His work. Then Jesus led them to the Mount of Olives, just to the east of Jerusalem. It was there that He gave them some final words and directions.
The first thing that the Lord Jesus told the disciples was a promise of sending the Holy Spirit, and that they were to wait for this outpouring, the baptism of the Spirit, while remaining in Jerusalem (vs. 4-5). The disciples had to wait until Pentecost for the Holy Spirit to come. Today believers receive the Holy Spirit as soon as they are saved. This didn’t happen immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven, which is why Jesus told them to wait. Rarely does God do things immediately. They were to remain in Jerusalem and patiently wait. Ten days later the Holy Spirit came upon them. Most of us can’t wait ten minutes for our food to cook, let alone wait ten days! Yet so often that is what God wants us to do - wait, wait and pray.
The disciples then asked the Lord if it was at this time that He would restore the kingdom to Israel (vs. 6-7). Many of the Jewish people had believed that the coming Messiah would be a strong, powerful political leader who would restore power and authority to the Jewish people, kicking Rome, and any other ruling powers, out of Israel. Some of the disciples were still believing this. However, this was not the type of Messiah that God sent. Another of Jesus’ final words was to tell us that we will not know the exact dates of God’s timetable. Yes, one day Jesus will return, and all power on earth will come into His hands, but as He said, we do not know when that will be. We should not believe anyone who says they do.
Jesus proceeded to give another final, and important instruction. He told them that after the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were to be His witnesses, bringing His message of salvation to the whole world (vs. 8). The disciples’ mission was to spread the Gospel as the Holy Spirit empowered them. They were to witness, both in their own home neighborhoods, and then on out into the world.
Those early disciples were simple folk, with no advanced education. They were fishermen and other basic, honest jobs. They did not have any powerful, influential careers. Satan will try to tell you that you aren’t qualified to share the Gospel. He will use others to say that since you don’t have advanced theological university degrees that you best keep quiet. However, God tells us all to spread the Gospel, and He gives us the power through His Holy Spirit. The power that comes from the Holy Spirit will bring courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority.
As our Scripture draws to a close, we read how Jesus ascended up into heaven (vs. 9-11). God the Father took Jesus in His resurrection Body from this world to be seated at His rightful place at the Father’s right hand. If Jesus had remained on earth, His physical presence would have limited the spread of the Gospel, because the Holy Spirit could only be sent after He returned to heaven (John 16:7). Also, while Jesus was physically on earth, He could only be in one place at a time. After He was taken up to heaven, He could send the Holy Spirit, enabling Him to be present everywhere.
One day Jesus will return to earth, to the Mount of Olives, in the same way He ascended with clouds, to set up His Kingdom. We should be ready for His sudden return (I Thessalonians 5:2), not by standing around looking into the sky, but by working diligently to share the Gospel
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