Death By Love
It’s that moment. Your final breath. What will you say?
Steve Jobs (1955–2011)
“Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
DEATH BY LOVE.
3 Last Words that will Set You Free.
“WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON.”
JESUS PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE
[25] but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” [27] Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
I’m a monster when I’m hurt, stressed, or in trouble. Maybe you can relate.
Jesus’ gentleness is strong even in His dying breaths. He says very little from the cross. That’s because we know from history that He’s pushing himself up on nails that have been jammed through the most sensitive nerve-centers of His body, has angels and wrists. He’s also drowning in His own blood as crucifixion was death by asphyxiation. Why would He even bother speaking? He does so specifically to care for His mother, and assign John that task of taking good care of her.
A church leader I knew—a successful business man—died recently of brain cancer he fought for years. But he was one of those dudes who held it together and set his mind to care fully from start to finish for his family. He always had joy, took his kids on trips, and set up everything for his wife for his departure–even thoroughly setting up his own memorial from start to finish.
It’s with this kind of strong care that Jesus leads from the cross.
The system of care Jesus established is the church:
Are you in small group?
Are you on a team to serve for others?
Are you giving to the local church?
Are you invested in the mission?
Do you let others serve you?
It’s Groups weekend! Get in a GROUP! Find your people!
More importantly: Are you trusting in the care of Jesus?
“I THIRST”
JESUS SATISFIES.
[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
I thirst: Jesus didn’t accept a pain-numbing drink at the beginning of His ordeal (Mark 15:23), but now He accepted a taste of greatly diluted wine, to wet parched lips and a dry throat so He could make one final announcement to the world with a clear, loud voice.
“hyssop branch” (v.28) Jews were instructed to use the hyssup branch for painting the lambs blood on the door n the night of passover, when they were set free from the destroyer angel–who killed the first bron–and in order to leave captivity in Egypt.
We too are released from sin and Satan’s grip, have our sin forgiven and are ushered into a new promised land–the Kingdom of God–by the greater, truer passover Lamb Jesus!
This was also done in a substitutionary way. Jesus cross was in our place and for our sins. Because Jesus said “I thirst” on the cross, sinners can have their thirsty souls satisfied.
This forgiveness and freedom is exactly what your soul has been longing for…
The summer I was 15 I was sitting on my friends roof star-gazing. This was the year before I became a Christian. I’ll never forget how eager I was to live life. I longed to see more than the stars, I wanted all the world had to offer. I always had. But that night as I was looking into the stars with friends, I sensed that there was even more than all the world itself could off. As though from behind the stars, it was like Someone was there wooing me to Himself.
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
“It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.”
Augustine, Confessions
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Non-Christian, does your soul thirst for more? You may drink deeply of God Himself today. You will find satisfaction in nothing until you find Him.
Christian, do you enjoy God today? You may drink deeply of the Holy Spirit every day by enjoying His presence, praying to Him, and studying His Word, and walking in a Jesus-adventure on His mission daily.
“IT IS FINISHED.”
YOU NEED ADD NOTHING TO JESUS’ WORK.
[30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [31] Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. [32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. [36] For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
· The types, promises, and prophecies were finished.
· The sacrifices and ceremonies of the priesthood were finished.
· His perfect obedience was finished.
· The satisfaction of God’s justice was finished.
· The power of Satan, sin, and death was finished.|
Some think that Jesus literally died of a broken heart. And that’s why the blood and water flowed. It’s thought that medically, if the heart sack was filled blood it may have been because the heart burst.
Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power
Charles Spurgeon
“One of these old divines says that Jesus Christ was typified by our first father, Adam. As Adam fell asleep, and out of his side Eve was taken, so Jesus slept upon the cross the sleep of death, and from his side, where the spear was thrust, his Church was taken.”
Jesus work is sufficient. You can rest in it–so that your final breath matters.
Down through history men have said their last words.
Kurt Cobain (suicide note, quoting Neil Young)
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
Frank Sinatra
“I’m losing.”
William Carey (1761–1834, missionary to India)
“When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey—speak about Dr. Carey’s Savior.”
John Wesley (1703–1791, founder of Methodism)
“The best of all is, God is with us.”
Voltaire (1694–1778, skeptic and critic of Christianity)
“I am abandoned by God and man... I shall go to hell.”
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900, "God is dead" philosopher)
Died after going insane. His last recorded phrase before collapse:
"Mother, I am stupid."
Anton LaVey (1930–1997, founder of the Church of Satan)
“Oh my, oh my, what have I done, there is something very wrong... there is something very wrong.”
Down through history men have said their last words. What will yours be?