Wisdom In Jesus' Last Words

Our mission now, is to look more carefully at two, to be exact, of the last words and actions of our Risen Jesus, before He ascended into heaven. Remember, these are the last words and actions, not from a Jesus who is about to die and be buried in a grave, but a Jesus who has risen out of the grave and is about to ascend, to go, back to His heavenly home, with His heavenly Father.

The main reason for this, is that we all may be immersed in its truth and wisdom and know that we too have received these lasts words and actions, to our benefit and to the glory of God. We are noting, not just how relevant they are for us now, but what we are missing as disciples, if His words find no place in us. Additionally, as a direct consequence, we will find it impossible to live out anything of His Will and Testament.

However, before we turn to just two of the last words, taken from those offered yesterday, we need to affirm a few faith-strengthening and trust-stabilizing facts about our Jesus, our Saviour, our Master and our Lord.

Jesus has already done the work which His Father wanted Him to do, the work for which He took on flesh and became a perfect human being, tempted in all ways as you and I, yet without yielding to any temptation. He has been glorified and is able to return to the place from which He came, as One victorious. We must know and live this fact that Jesus has already overcome anything the world may throw at us. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16: 33. His last words and actions are not just appropriate, but triumphant, for He fought every evil – flesh, blood, principalities and power - with the invincible Holy Spirit, and never He lost a battle.

Another faith-strengthening and trust-stabilizing fact is that Jesus is not just risen from the grave, but a real human being rose from the grave. Jesus was perfectly human and perfectly divine when He was crucified, died and was buried. When Jesus was raised to life again, when He went to His disciples to show them that He was alive, He was super particular to let them understand this. Flesh and blood was raised, not spirit, but a real human body was alive again, one they could feel and touch and who could eat food as they did. His last words and actions are not just needed, but true, for He is our inspiration and hope that we too will be raised in our mortal bodies. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8: 10 – 11

Another fact about our Risen Jesus, which gives undeniable hope and unlimited scope to you and me as believers, is that even though we are clothed in human clay, we can do all He has to do in us and through us. In other words, through Jesus, and our unalterable belief in Him, we receive His Spirit who becomes our all, so that our human nature no longer rules us. That being the case, we no longer live under the rule and reign of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, passivity, resignation, and ignorance. Instead, the Spirit becomes our life and in Him there is peace and assurance. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1: 7 KJV. Jesus’ last words and actions do not only reveal to us the way we, as believers, are to be living in this world of fierce trials and battles. He has given us all the power and wisdom we need to live in Him, as conquerors.   

Having had our faith and trust affirmed in these stabilizing, strengthening and inspiring truths about our Jesus, Master and Lord, we confidently continue.