Skip to main content

267. The Upper Room Discourse

An Overview
John chapter 14 through chapter 16
Key Verse: "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you."
John 15:15

 The Seder meal is almost over. There is a sense of closeness and contentment among close friends. The room is lit by small, smoky lanterns. Perhaps, since it is spring, a gentle breeze wafts in from time to time through an open window. Everyone is full from a wonderful meal and at peace from the wine. It's one of those times that no one wants to come to an end. It's a time of peace. There is no more bickering or jostling for position. If only they had known what He knew, that these were their last few hours together.

 In scripture, much attention is given to last words. The Patriarchs' last words are recorded as blessings, or curses, for the next generation. Moses issued words of encouragement to Joshua. Elijah had final words for Elisha. David had final words for his son Solomon and the leaders. I often wonder what my last words would be, if I knew that they were to be my last words on this earth. What would be the most important thing that I would want my loved ones to know? It is an interesting exercise to ponder.

 Jesus knows that He has one last evening with His disciples; one last time to give them hope and encouragement; one last hour to prepare them for the future. Imagine yourself there, listening to Jesus in the quiet room, reclining at the table, trying to remember, but probably not getting all of it and perhaps thinking, "That's okay, Jesus will say it again later."

John, the youngest, seems to have remembered the most and thus has recorded what he recalls, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for us here. Let Jesus’ last words settle on you now as they settled on the disciples then. Be more attentive than they were so that you will be better equipped and reassured. Let these words prepare you for the future. After all, you know what the disciples did not, that these are Jesus' last words before His passion. What impact does it make on you now that you know?

Hymn: "Sing Alleluia to the Lord" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...
Post a Comment
Read more

186. Ten Healed, Or One?

Luke 17:11-19 Key Verse: Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19 At last, Jesus has left the crowd behind and again is continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. His path takes Him and His disciples along the border of Judea and Samaria, between the pure Jews, and the hated half breeds of the day. On His way, Jesus encounters an interesting group of people. We only learn the nationality of one of them and, though we don't know the nationality of the others, because Jesus sends them to the priests in Jerusalem we can probably assume that at least some of them are Jews. Isn't it interesting that through leprosy, a disease that causes much suffering, the dividing wall of hatred has come down for the sake of companionship? We encountered one leper earlier on our Journey. Lepers were the dreaded untouchables of the day. Their disease cut them off from all they loved. It was a very lonely life. No wonder these people had ...
Post a Comment
Read more