LIVING LIKE THE END

If you knew with certainty that you had one week left on this earth, would you be living life any differently? 

Would that knowledge have any impact on what you were doing?

Truthfully, it is a thought that recently occurred to me after learning of a high school classmate of mine passing, as well as a friend’s brother. He was given a few months to live.  My friend was able to spend quality time, the last six weeks of her brother’s life with him and his family, being with them when he passed.

 

It made me ponder Jesus’ life. 

 

John gives us a few clues into Jesus’ knowledge of His impending death.  Shortly after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before the Passover Feast,

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”  –John 12:23  (NIV)

Jesus knew the end was drawing near with the way things were lining up in His life.

 

On Thursday, just prior to the celebration of the Passover Feast, we see Jesus knew the time was rapidly approaching.

It was just before the Passover Feast.  Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.   –John 13:1  (NIV) 

 

What exactly was Jesus spending time doing the last week of His life on this earth?

Are they the things you would be doing too?

 

 

 

–Each day from Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem to the time of Passover (Sun – Thurs), Jesus could be found teaching in the temple during the day and praying to God at the Mount of Olives each evening.

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.  –Luke 21:37-38  (NIV)

  

–On the day of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem, Jesus wept for the city of Jerusalem.  How He longed for the Jewish people to repent from their ways and recognize that He was the Savior of the world.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “…They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”  –Luke 19:41; 44  (NIV)

 

–Jesus was trying to have the temple area restored to a place of prayer because of prayer’s importance.

Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.  “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers.”  –Luke 19:45-46  (NIV)

  

–On the feast of Passover on Thursday, Jesus spent His Last Supper with His closest friends showing the importance of serving others.  He modeled serving through His washing the disciples’ feet and with sharing His body and blood with His disciples.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  –John 13:3-5  (NIV)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.  –Mark 14:22-24  (NIV)

  

–Jesus prayed for Simon who He knew would betray Him.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  –Luke 22:31-32  (NIV)

  

–Jesus prayed one last time to see if God would take away the cup of suffering from Him.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.  “…Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  –Luke 22:39; 42  (NIV)

 

–Jesus prayed for Himself, for His disciples, for all believers.

“…Father, the time has come.  Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”  –John 17:1  (NIV)

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”  –John 17:9  (NIV)

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…”  –John 17:20  (NIV)

 

 

Photo courtesy of Javcon117* under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 

In actuality, those three main things that Jesus did in the last week of His life on earth, aren’t they really things He did each and every day of His life, especially in His public ministry?  I would also add many miracles and healings.

What wonderful encouragement for us to model our lives, each and every day of our lives, after Jesus!

 

How should we be living each day?

1–Teaching–sharing about Jesus and the salvation He grants us through His death on the cross!  Sharing the ways you see Him working in your life to encourage others.

2–Serving–finding ways to serve the Body of Christ, which is every person that we meet!  Using the gifts and talents God gifted you with to serve others.

3-Praying–praying for those in need, for our friends and even more so our enemies!  We can continually pray and our lives can be an offering of prayer to God.

 

So, let me ask you once more,

If you knew with certainty that you had one week left on this earth, would you be living life any differently? 

Would that knowledge have any impact on what you were doing? 

Did your original answer change or not?

 

May these thoughts encourage you to live each day to the fullest, modeling the examples Jesus shared with us.

Be a disciple of Jesus teaching, serving and praying!

Spread the Good News!

You are an important part of the Kingdom of God!

 

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.  –Matthew 20:28  (NLT)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.  –Colossians 4:2  (ESV)