Living Grace Lutheran Church - Omaha Nebraska

Jesus’ Famous Last Words

Jesus spent part of his life doing public ministry: travailing from town to town, teaching crowds of people, performing miracles, and challenging the religious authorities. But as Jesus’ earthly life was drawing to a close, he spent some time in private with his disciples. One evening in an upstairs room in a house in Jerusalem he instructed them about the deeper things of God, his identity and their heavenly future. In fact, these words could even be considered Jesus’ last words before his death. As we study these private last words of Jesus, and apply his deep wisdom to our lives, we can experience the blessings of God and live a fulfilling life.

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Here are the stories in this series:

• July 24 – John 13:1-17
  Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet: Serving
  Living a self centered life is a sure fire way to experience personal un-fulfillment and spiritual stagnation. Jesus serves his disciples by washing their feet. He then commands them (and us) to do the same. From our acts of serving others come Godʼs blessing.
• July 31 – John 13:31-38
  Jesus’ New Commandment: Loving
  Through his teaching, Jesus brought the eternal wisdom of God into our physical world in ways that we can understand. In this passage, Jesus gives us a commandment, to love others. This is Jesus’ most challenging, and most liberating, of all his instructions to us.
• August 7 – John 14:1-14
  Jesus Gives Us Access to God the Father: Asking
  Jesus identifies himself as a direct reflection of God the Father. When we follow Jesus’ words and believe that he provides the means for living a full and blessed life, we can bring to bear his full divine resources into our lives. How? By simply asking!
• August 14 – John 14:15-26
  Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit: Advocating
  After Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to live in his followers. Before that time, they had only experienced the Spirit living with them (v. 17). What does it mean for us that the Spirit now lives in us and is our Advocate?
• August 21 – John 15:1-17
  Jesus is the Source of Fruitful Living: Producing
  When Jesus teaches about our spiritual source, he uses the image of a grapevine, branches, and fruit. This illustrates not only the fruitfulness of our Christian life, but is a reminder that the source of our faithful actions are generated from Godʼs eternal power.
• August 28 – John 16:16-33
  Jesus Gives to Us His Deep Joy: Overcoming
  No Christian is immune from experiencing pain and suffering, but during these trying times, joy can be the underling thread of our life experience and expression. Jesus says that no one or no thing can rob you of the joy he can give to you.
• September 4 – John 17:1-21
  Jesus Positions Us in the World: Living
  This final section is not actually Jesus teaching, but him praying to God on behalf of his disciples and us. We overhear the delicate balance of the Christian's position in the world. We live in the world but we are not of the world, and that gives us tremendous identification with others, but also freedom from the entanglements of this earthly life.