Your final words
Have you ever pondered what you would say if you had just a few sentences to speak before you took your last breath? Chances are, you’d want your final words to be deeply meaningful and impactful, rather than indulging in the trivialities of social media or asking about the final score in your preferred sport. Surely, our inclination would lean towards a more profound sentiment. If time allowed, our farewell could be more contemplative and would unquestionably bear great significance.
A great man of faith Tim Keller recently died, and his final words were “There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.” before kissing his wife on the forehead and breathing his last. He knew that Eternity lay ahead of him, and that was better than anything this earth had to offer.
The final words of Jesus
These are the final words that Jesus shared with his followers. All of scripture is of course God breathed and useful to us (2 Timothy 3:16) – but there is something significant in the final words He ever spoke in person. In that pivotal moment, Jesus undoubtedly considered precisely what His listeners needed to hear, recognizing the profound impact these words would have in shaping the course of their lives. This was the physical embodiment of God, and His closing message bears great importance. So, let’s delve into Jesus’s final words.
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.” Matthew 28:16-20
These were the last words that Jesus spoke to His followers. And I believe they are the same words He would say to each of us today. He teaches how to make your life count for all eternity.
Key thoughts from the passage:
All authority in heaven and on earth: This is a statement of Him being the risen King. He ruled and reigned supreme. He had defeated death. He had proved His great love for the world by paying the ultimate price on the cross. He had the power to see His mission to save us from our sins come to pass. He was God.
This marks the foundational step for each of us in the pursuit of a life with eternal significance. It entails the deep-seated understanding that we are cherished by Jesus beyond human comprehension and that He is powerfully at work in our lives. Placing the entirety of your life in His hands in the safest and most purposeful way to live.
Go: This command is far from passive; it carries a call to action that beckons us to engage purposefully. We aren’t meant to meander into the life that Christ calls us to live, as if by mere chance. Instead, we are summoned to take deliberate steps, to embark on a journey that requires effort and intentionality. But what exactly does Jesus want us to actively do?
Make Disciples: A disciple means a follower, or a student, and Jesus is talking about following Him. He is saying that the active ‘going’ work He has for us is to help make followers of Jesus. While we cannot change people’s hearts, only Jesus can do that, our primary focus should be on advancing His cause. This entails prioritizing the introduction of our friends, family, and acquaintances to the most significant relationship they could ever experience—Jesus. It involves guiding them with love and offering prayers for their spiritual journey.
This mission holds the utmost eternal value. Ultimately, this world will conclude for each of us, leading to either Heaven or Hell, a life with Jesus or a life devoid of goodness. There’s nothing more crucial and more joyous than witnessing individuals come to faith, embrace Jesus, and in turn, guide others to follow Him. This is how we ensure our lives have an enduring impact throughout eternity.
Important Considerations in Discipleship:
Disciples vs. Converts: It’s crucial to understand that a disciple is not merely a convert. Discipleship represents a lifelong journey of drawing closer to Jesus. Our goal should extend beyond introducing people to Jesus—it should focus on nurturing their spiritual growth throughout their lives. Making disciples is about friendship, it is about regular connection. This involves fostering genuine friendships and maintaining regular connections, valuing the priceless resource of time, and investing in people without distractions like our phones. Read more about how to build life-giving friendships.
Leading by Example: Effective discipleship requires us to be disciples ourselves. We can’t effectively share what we don’t personally live and understand. Before embarking on the mission to share Jesus with others, we must evaluate our lives to ensure that we are following Him and earnestly seeking to honor Him in every aspect of our lives. While perfection may elude us, the desire to be Christ-like should be a constant motivator. Our words and lifestyle should match, as to not become hypocritical, as the world finds such inconsistencies offensive, as Brennan Manning famously noted.
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
Prioritizing Christ’s Mission: While questions about career, education, and life choices are important, they are secondary. Our primary purpose, as defined by Jesus, is to make disciples of Christ. Our professions and careers serve as tools to fulfill this purpose. Therefore, the central question we should ask ourselves is how we can best utilize our passions and skills, granted by God, to advance His purpose of making disciples on Earth.
All of us should ask Jesus how we can best use our passions and skills that he has given us to help fulfill our purpose on earth, which is to make disciples. We have created this free resource to help and support you in this.
All nations: We have been commissioned into a grand narrative to reach every person who has yet to hear about Jesus. Regardless of where we live, we have a role to play in expanding God’s kingdom. In Zimbabwe, about 95% of teenagers who leave to study never return. If we see every teenager leaving as an opportunity to fulfill the great commission in the place they settle – this is actually something to celebrate and get behind. We are looking at starting gap year programs to help prepare students for the great commission.
Regardless of what country you live in – remember that God’s Kingdom is vast. It applies wherever we live, or wherever God calls us to.
Baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: This is all about modeling and teaching the way to live. Baptism symbolizes our transition from an old way of life to a new one. As disciples, our lives should exemplify a distinct way of living for Christ, standing out in society. Our role is to model and teach this way of life, demonstrating to the world what it means to live for Christ.
Being Salt and Light: In ancient times, salt held significant value, and its primary purposes were to preserve and add flavor. The Greeks thought it contained something of a divine nature. Rome sometimes paid soldiers wages in salt. Similarly, light in darkness is unmistakable, impossible to conceal. As followers of Christ, living for Him will inevitably make us stand out. You may be shunned, but you will stand out. If you aren’t standing out, it may mean that you aren’t actually living as a Christ-follower. Ask why, and look to see if there is evidence to others that you have a relationship with Christ.
This is the mission Jesus has entrusted us with, but His final promise stands as the most crucial of all: “I am with you.” This statement teaches us that we are not expected to do this relying solely on our strength; rather, we require His Spirit. Regardless of the challenges we encounter, His proximity is unwavering. While the mission to reach those who have yet to know Him is demanding, it is profoundly worthwhile. Lead a life marked by an eternal impact, keeping your focus on Jesus and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
