Two posts back (in a repost), I asked, “What if you knew you only had one week left to live on earth?”
Lisa from Lisa Notes commented,
“I was asked… a week or so ago: If I were told I had 24 hours to live, what would I do? I responded that I’d want to be with loved ones. But my friend said she’d be calling everyone she knew that didn’t know Jesus, and telling them to find Him. I thought that was a very good answer.” (emphasis mine)
That comment went stirring in my head, prodding repeatedly for my own (honest) answer — but then my thoughts ran on further, to exactly what Jesus did His last 24 hours before He was taken prisoner by man.
First, my self thoughts: “Hm. To be honest, I think I’d want to be with loved ones, too.”
But what about all those lost and needy people? What about all the good that I would have liked to have done that would remain unaccomplished? Would I run around trying to do it all in 24 hours — maybe with my loved ones trailing along?
My guess is I’d be lying weak on a deathbed, incapable of any action and little speech. So my hope is that I would have introduced people around my life to Jesus, would have encouraged them in Him and helped them see in His light, would have done whatever part God had told me to do — before my death day.
But considering further, I thought: If any “unfinished business” really mattered to me, wouldn’t I try to pass on the baton to my loved ones gathered around?
Another “Aha!” moment! Isn’t that exactly what He did?
Tuesday’s post said what He did in His final week was telling. What he did in His last free day is even more so. What strikes me now is how much it jibes with what I think most of us would really do, if we knew we would die within that time.
Guess what Jesus did in His last 24 hours? Although there are several chapters of scripture giving a lot more detail, in summary…
1) He gathered His loved ones around Him. Just a little group, in an upper room.
2) He let them know His heart, how He loved them, and what He most desired for them.
3) He gave them instructions for after He was no longer with them. And…
4) He passed on the baton for them (and those to come after them) to continue His unfinished business!
His main passionate desire and instruction: For them to abide in Him, to bear the spiritual fruit of that abiding, and to love one another with the humility of the foot-washing servant.
His last day: His last will and testament.
To read more: The Gospel of John, chapters 13-17 (John 13, John 14, John 15, John 16, John 17). A good read for this day/week.
(Or, go here and read all the references under Maundy Thursday.)
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Listing More Reasons to Worship and Praise Him — Counting to 10,000
(In my personal journal, I have already passed 400, but am picking up my numbering here from the last post containing listed Reasons)
94 – He has qualified us (who believe in Him) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col 1:12)
95 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness (Col 1:13)
96 – He has transferred us into His kingdom (Col 1:13)
97 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14)
98 – By Him all powers were created (Col 1:16).
99 – By Him all thrones were created (Col 1:16).
100 – By Him all dominions were created (Col 1:16).
101 – By Him all principalities were created (Col 1:16).
102 – By Him all things consist/hold together (Col 1:17).
103 – He is before all things (Col 1:17)
104 – He is the head of the body, the Church (Col 1:18)
105 – He is the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18)
106 – In all things He will have pre-eminence (Col 1:18)
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Linked to
Word-Filled Wednesday at the Internet Cafe
This is such a good post for many reasons and so seasonally appropriate.
Don’t you just LOVE Colossians 1. I recited it aloud to a physician in the free medical clinic a couple weeks ago. We both had tears in our eyes for exactly WHO our God and Savior are (or is it “is”?)
Good morning, Sylvia Sunshine!
Dawn
Oh yes, Dawn I surely do love Colossians 1. What a rich time of sharing you and that physician must have had! Good passages there to memorize. And yes, I think it *is* “is”! 🙂 How blessed we are! And may you be especially blessed as this week continues to play out.
Wow wonderfully written! Power and moving I am so glad I read this. On of my favorite books is Hope for a hopeless day. Jack Hayford takes Jesus and breaks it down, giving us an exampled of how to live our darkest day. I had not thought much about the day that lead up to the darkest day. Thanks for the comment on my blog. Your right it is not always wise to spill all that is in your heart. I am a pastors wife, and honestly what is in my heart might cause some to stumble at times. So I keep those thought to myself, of coarse. I think you know I meant, in general being open and transparent is the best way to live the Christian life.
Hi Tesha. So glad you came over to visit here. Yes, I surely do know what you meant about being open and honest. It’s so easy to live behind a false mask, and there’s a fine line between pretending everything’s just dandy when it’s really horrible… and hypocrisy, playing a pretend role. I was actually thinking partly of pastor’s wives, to whom my heart goes out. So important to be real and yet not indiscreet or say what would cause others to stumble. Such a difficult course sometimes to walk! My heart especially goes out to you in your present pain. May God give you special comfort during this week commemorating Christ’s own dark time, and resurrection.
This is so thought provoking… Passing on the baton! I love that. I’d never really thought about this before and like you it would be to spend time with loved ones, which our Lord did. Bless you this Easter Season 🙂
And God richly bless you, too, Ms Kathleen! Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts, your thought process – so like my own when trying to think through things like this! I try to figure it out myself then I look at Scripture to see what God says about it. (For me, though, I’m starting to think I need to learn how to do it the other way around, save myself a lot of headaches. That’s my story, though, not yours, and) I love the way your thought process worked out, looking at what Jesus did, identifying what was important to Him in those last 24 hours. It’s amazing what’s in the Bible if you really look at it! Speaking of which, great reasons! You probably have me beat by now! Praise God for this slow yet incredible discovering of who He is!!!!!
God bless!
No, Mary, I don’t think I have you beat; I think we’re about even. And yes, I’m amazed to find so many *different* reasons as I make my way through various books of the Bible. I thought there’d be a lot of duplication, but instead what a huge treasure trove of wide variety! And it really is wonderful how it brings me into closer contact with the reality of all He is. (As long as I take the time to savor the new reasons as I “find” them!)
God bless you, Mary! May the coming Resurrection Day be your richest and most meaningful ever!