Final words are important. “Happily Ever After.” “The End.”
Last words from a dying loved one on a hospital bed should never be forgotten.
“Goodbye.” “I love you.” We are scared to end our phone conversations any other
way. Likewise last words can bring joy, insight, encouragement, all depending
on the situation and who gives them. In the book of Acts chapter 1 verse 8 we
read, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, ad to the ends
of the earth.” This, according to Acts, was the last statement Jesus made
before He ascended into heaven. Later in Acts we see this directive come to
life through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, in chapter 2,
and in the boldness of His witnesses evangelizing and making disciples of Jews
and Gentiles. Why is this significant? Because these last words were the
initiation of what we call the Church, Christ’s followers sent on mission in
the world.
After reflecting on this verse, I could not help thinking of
Christ’s final words before returning to the right hand of the Father. These
few crucial words were foundational for the conception of the Church then, but what about now? When I take Acts 1:8 coupled with
the oft-quoted Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, I start to see
clearly what Christ’s heart was all about. What was His chief concern before He
ascended into heaven? Why did He leave us this way? It is because He left us with
a job to do, a job for His Church then,
and it is the same job for His Church now.
The mandate has not changed- Bear witness to His good news through evangelizing, discipling, baptizing,
and teaching so that others may know
the Love of Christ and experience Life in Him. It is a sobering fact that Jesus’
last words then are still His last words today and will continue to be until He
comes again. So, how are we going to respond?
