Any Last Words?

"I can't sleep." -James M. Barrie, author

"Josephine..." -Napolean Bonaparte, French Emperor

"Et tu, Brute?" -Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor

"I'm bored with it all." -Winston Churchill, statesman

"That was a great game of golf, fellers." -Bing Crosby, musician

"I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you." -James K. Polk, US President

"Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." -Oscar Wilde, author

"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something." -Pancho Villa, Mexican Revolutionary

Last words. We record them and we quote them. Why? Last words reflect priorities, needs, and what the dying person truly felt was most important. If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that tomorrow you would be killed, what would you say? What would be the most important thing that you would want to make sure was said before you died?

In John 17, some of Christ's final words are recorded. No, these are not his last words, not even his last prayer, but they're recorded to remind us of what Jesus was thinking about only hours before he would be sentenced to the cross. First (v.1-5) he prays that he can glorify God with his death. He doesn't pray that it will come easy, he prays that he can glorify God with the most degrading moments of his life. Secondly (v.6-19) he prays for his disciples. He prays that they may continue in their understanding so that they may spread the love of God throughout the world. He thanks God for lending them to him while he was on earth and he offers them back to the service of God. He asks that they be sanctified in truth and protected from the evil one.

Finally (v.20-16) he prays for Christians. Hours before Christ was betrayed by one of his best friends and carted off like an animal to be slaughtered, he was thinking about me. He gave Christians his glory so that they may be ONE. Christ stresses his desire for unity. He doesn't pray that everyone in the world will become a Christian. He doesn't pray for world peace. He prays that Christians of the future will be united. He doesn't want them being held back by denominations or petty conflicts. He wants them to unite for a cause worthy of living for and worthy of dying for. He wants Christians to unite so that they may go to heaven to see Christ in all of his glory.

Let us not pass by these words. As sweat drops of blood dripped from him and guards were closing in on him and his earthly life was quickly slipping from his hands, he asked that Christians be united. Let us no longer be divided over the things that we think are true. Let us be united by the things we know to be true because God has said them.

What do you say to that?