Jesus Last Words

John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6

Some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples is to tell them they can’t go where he is to go but he leaves them a commandment to love one another. He qualifies this by adding “how I have loved you.” Why? “By this everyone will know you are my disciples.” This is what we are to do until we go to heaven and are glorified.

In Revelation 21 Christ sits on his throne telling how the home of God – the new heaven and earth is with mortals. God will dwell with them and wipe every tear from their eyes since mourning, crying, and pain will be no more since death will be no more. Jesus last words are, “I am making all things new. It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end.” To those who thirst for him he will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life – eternal life.

Though we live on the old earth now with its pain, suffering, and tears Christ promises us a new heaven and earth where pain and tears will be gone. Until then the Holy Spirit helps us on earth to love – even the unlovable like Christ did. We are also comforted during our times of trial as we await our full glorified bodies and the new heaven and earth. Those who are thirsty for real life in God will be given the water of life to drink – eternal life.

Do we have to wait for newness of life? The prophet Isaiah promised God would make things new and provide a new path for the Israelites out of exile. Being saved not only brings eternal life in our future, but newness in our lives today. We can have love for our neighbors and even our selves since we have become children of God. We have a new purpose to help to promote God’s kingdom by following Christ’s command to love one another. In our day-to-day life God can give us new strength, new possibilities, and new hope as we encounter challenging situations.

Christ has been in our beginning and will be with us in our end on this earth. He will give us eternal life on a new heaven and earth where God will dwell with us mortals wiping away every tear from our eyes since mourning, crying and pain will be no more. This promise for us is in Jesus’ last words. Amen

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