The setting: Christ’s final Passover with His closest friends. (The time has come to sacrifice his life as a ransom for many. He shows the full extent of His love.)
Here’s how an epic Hollywood movie might have captured the moment:
After supper, Jesus rises from his seat, unsheathes a gleaming sword, and says (holding it up to bask in His own reflection),
“Men, this is our finest hour. It’s time to show these religious bigots who we really are–warriors of the Living God! (Raises sword toward ceiling) So be brave. Be strong. We shall all die well–except for the traitor.” (Drops sword to His waist and stares out the window)
But that’s not what happened.
What Jesus did was wash His disciples’ feet; something none of them were willing to do. His final act of love for them–before His death–was an act of service.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Jesus- John 13:15 (NIV)
Many are aware of the seven last words of Christ, the things He said while hanging on the cross, but this was at His public execution. What was the last thing he said (before His death) to those closest to Him, in a more private, peaceful setting?
Back at the supper table, sandwiched between His prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial, we find these famous last words:
A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Jesus- John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Service and Love
These are twin beacons of a true follower of Christ, reflections of God’s nature shared with the world. And, with the earliest Christians, this is exactly how it was.
Tertullian, a church leader in Carthage (North Africa) wrote that, while Christ followers were routinely persecuted, at the same time they were admired. Why? “See how they love one another—how they are ready even to die for one another.” That’s Tertullian quoting the prevailing sentiments of unbelievers toward Christians.
Kind reader, the classic Christian hymn from the 1960’s says it well: 🎶 “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” 🎶
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus – John 13:17 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
Portions of this post were originally published here on January 31, 2021.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
39 responses to “Famous Last Words”
Amen, Dawn. God is love , so loving others (like he does) is a given. I confess, though, sometimes I need his help to do this! Thank you for sharing. God Bless!
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Love should be the basis of all we do. Thank you for the reminder!
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Thank you, Beth. I appreciate your encouraging words. I pointed out Christ’s service and love, through washing his disciples feet, but you applied it to the cross.
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David, you masterfully wove all the elements of this post together to make a powerful point we don’t often hear at Easter. Jesus set that example of being a twin beacon on the cross in His sacrificial love for us and His obedient love for His Father.
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Thank you, Dean. God’s best to you and yours, as well.
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Great post brother! I love the Hollywood example because it’s so true of what they would have done. God bless you and family 🥰
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😁
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Thank you, Rainer! Happy Palm Sunday. I hope you have a blessed, and contemplative Holy Week. God Bless!
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What a beautiful narrative, David. Last night, during Communion, I was thinking about Jesus and the Last Supper. It’s a beautiful picture I envision of Jesus sitting with his friends breaking bread. I love the thought of Jesus washing his disciples feet—-showing us how we are to follow Him both in love and service. Good word!
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Thank you for sharing the excellent scripture reference, Chris. I hadn’t thought of how this passage goes with the story, but it certainly does. God’s best to you. Happy Palm Sunday, brother.
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So true. God’s ways are not the world’s (or Hollywood’s) ways. Reminds me of 1 Corinthians 1:27: “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.”
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Yes sir, Andy B! Thanks for stopping by. God Bless.
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“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
Amen!!
Andy B
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No that certainly isn’t Jesus. I took your words to mean what you describe above.
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Hardly, Pete, Like fine wine you just keep getting better! I called it a classic because it was written over 50 years ago, and it’s still popular! Thanks for stopping by. God Bless!
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Wow Dave. I guess I am so old that a simple worship song we sang as teens is now a Classic hymn!
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So true, Matt! From birth to death, Jesus went against the worldly norm. That’s enough to make us pause and think. Or it should be.
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Many of Christ’s words and actions don’t gel with the American idea of a text book hero. That’s what I meant. One definition of antihero means someone who lacks honor or virtue. This is certainly not Jesus!
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That’s such a great description of Jesus – an antihero! that is so true of Him!!! Thanks for this, David 🙂
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Jesus definitely showed that God’s ways are not the way the world would go. Even at the start with Jesus’s birth, Jesus displayed that.
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Agreed, Gary. It’s often easier to hate than it is to love. God’s help is desperately needed. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to assist. God Bless!
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Loving God and others actively so that others recognize and admire that love is sure rare. It’s so much easier to raise the sword, smite with the pen (computer)leverage and strategize. Love is so hard we need an infusion of God’s love in us to make it part of our character. Good one David.
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Amen, BG. Come to think of it, Jesus did lead 100% by example. Have a blessed day, my brother!
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In some ways Jesus fits the description of an anti-hero, precisely for the reasons you mentioned. His statements like, “The first shall be first and and last shall be first” illustrate that, in God’s kingdom, 2+2 doesn’t always equal 4. But I’m writing another post here. ☺️ Thank you for reading and sharing. God Bless!
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We are servants of Christ. We minister to each other by his example. Oh, how I love Jesus! Thanks Dave for another excellent story brother!
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Christ’s reaction is so different to what you would expect from a Hollywood movie. So very different! What an example for us …. Thanks for reminding me of this. The obvious, or the expected, way isn’t always the right way.
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As soon as I am done laughing at how amazing your humor is, I shall be bequeathing away!
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And then lower your sword to David’s shoulder, as you bequeath him with bonus points. 😉
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(Raising my sword toward the ceiling) “Readers, follow this post’s advice and live your life for Jesus!”
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Amen, brother. Your thoughts could make a post in themselves! It’s interesting what Jesus chose to say to those closest to him—just before his death. Of all the things he could have talked about, he emphasized loving one another. Blessings!
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Thank you, Andy. Loving both God and each other well is paramount to the Christian faith. Agreed. I appreciate your reading and commenting. His best to you!
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I love this post David, highlighting the John 13 command to love one another. This often gets overlooked in the retelling of the story. Just as He prepares the disciples for what is to come, He prepares us too to be ready for His return in Glory.
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Great post, thank you for sharing these thoughts. The command to love one another is such an important one, and although should be central to our lives, it is one we sometimes forget!
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😳
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Oddly, she seems indifferent to music. 🎶 🙁
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That’s cool, Barb. I bet that little one is already a musician!
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Yes!!!!
BTW – One of my students is the only child of two music teachers. Every time they pick her up, I think of you. 🎼😃
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So true, Barb! A former pastor liked to flip the saying, “What would Jesus do?” into “What DID Jesus do?” Thank you for stopping by today. God Bless!
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What a perfect way to prepare for Holy Week.
It is so important to reflect on things as they are/were rather than a Hollywood-ized version. Why do we think we can improve on God’s truth? Silly humans.
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