last one forgave me...

so i forgave the next.

 

Something in us says, "Lean in. Listen closely. These are Jesus' last words. They are important."

Listen to that humming inside, it is right...

 

The great three days have begun, the tridium.

Today we enter into a Holy journey - here we start.

Here we start with Jesus' final words.

Jesus' last words...

 

For centuries Christians have insisted that to understand the tragedy of the of the cross or the triumph of the empty tomb, we must hear these words first.

Jesus' last words...

These words will sustain us as we journey from what was, to what will be; from death to life, and from darkness to light.

These are the words we need to hear, to carry with us so that we may persevere through these dark days.

 

It is a good thing that when Jesus speaks these words he isn't only speaking to a small group for that moment.

No, these words of Jesus are addressed to every community that is serious about following Jesus through the darkness into the light.

 

The words that Jesus saves for his last are not about how to distribute his estate, they aren't good investment tips, they aren't about where he'd like to be buried.

No, Jesus' last words to us are about relationships.

Relationships.

 

Even more interesting is the relationships Jesus lifts up.

So much of Jesus' ministry has focused on our relationship to God or our relationship to Jesus; but now at the end, Jesus switches the focus.

Jesus wants to talk about different relationships...

Jesus wants to talk about our relationship with one another.

Woah

Jesus saves his last words not for talking theology. Jesus saves his last words to talk about us, our relationship with one another...

 

Let's be clear, too.

Jesus isn't just giving advice - No, Jesus actually offers down a new, a new and final, commandment:

We Are To Love One Another - Love Each Other.

Why?

Why at the end of Jesus' ministry, his last words, his final command would Jesus not talk about God or himself? Why at the end of his life would Jesus focus on our relationship with each other, call us to love one another?

Is it because Jesus knew how hard it would be for his followers to stay together once he would leave?

Is it because he knew that in grief we can become small and try to push others away?

Is it because he knew that challenges have a way of turning us in on one another?

All of these are real possibilities.

It seems, though, that Jesus gives this command because he had a deep understanding of how hard life-together can be...

Anyone who has sat next to that difficult uncle at a Thanksgiving dinner, knows how true this is.

Anyone who has watched friends they love leave a church over one disagreement or another, knows how true this is.

Anyone who has loved, any kind of love, knows how true this is...

There is something in us, something dark, something hurt, something afraid that makes it hard to stay together.

And this dark, this hurt, this fearful thing is always lurking and has a way of growing, becoming more powerful when we're facing challenges.

 

Jesus seems to know all this, not merely the challenges we would face, but also our human tendency to pull apart.

 

Jesus knows all this and so he saves his last words to talk not about God, not about himself, but about one another, our relationships, our life together.

Think about that; Jesus saves his last, precious words to talk about your relationship with the person you are sitting next to, your relationship with the other people who gather here, your relationship with those you care about...

 

But this is not all that Jesus knows.

Jesus saves these words, this last commands for another reason...

When Jesus leaves, it now falls to his followers, to us; to share Jesus with the world.

In other words, God's mission does not end when Jesus leaves.

Jesus knows this, and so his last, his final and new command is how we should share Jesus with the world.

Jesus doesn't say that we should develop vibrant ministries,

he doesn't say we should utilize social media and find charismatic pastors,

he doesn't even say we should threaten others with hell,

all he says is we should love one another.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Jesus' last words, his final command is not only for us, it is for the world.

We are to love one another, because frankly we need to be loved and only love will hold us together as we engage in this monumental task of sharing Jesus with the world.

We are to love one another because the world will look in on us, and as they see our love for one another, they will wonder, they will be drawn in.

 

Jesus saves his last words to tell us, finally, how we are to witness to him. It is as wonderful that his last words are about us as it is remarkable how simple it is to draw others to God.

All we have to do is love one another.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another..."

That is not all, though.

Finally, what Jesus knows, what we struggle to trust, what brings us here tomorrow to Good Friday service, is that God is able to transform.

God transforms challenges into opportunity,

transforms what has been into what will be,

transforms death into life,

to turn the darkness into light...

Yes, Jesus knows that there are real challenges facing his followers, both then and now.

Yes, Jesus knows how hard it will be for his followers, both then and now, to stay together.

However, Jesus also knows, that his followers, both then and now, are faced with more than trials and hardships.

Jesus also knows that his followers are given an opportunity.

An opportunity to be held together in love, the opportunity to show the world the kind of love the world needs, the world longs for...

 

These last words, his final command is important.

 

Lean in.

Listen carefully, they are the words we will need for our journey from what has been to what will come, from death to life, and from darkness into light.

 

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."