We've all heard that expression in movies "Have any last words?" when the bad guy is threatening to take the good guy down. It's an interesting thought. Most of us probably have some last things we'd like to say, but probably won't be in a position to realize it's that time until it's too late. Here are some famous last words (try and guess who said them, there'll be an answer key at the bottom): 1. "I'm losing it"
2. "Pardonnez-moi, monsieur." 3. "Swing low, sweet chariot.”
4. “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you."
5. “Happy anniversary. I love you.”
6. “A dying man can do nothing easy.”
7. “You’re right. It’s time. I love you all.” Interesting that we know the last words of some folks who were famous in life, but have no real idea what's going on with them in eternity, isn't it? It's a morbid fascination some of us have, recording, and holding on to famous last words. Jesus, knowing it was his time, also had some very famous last words with His disciples. Perhaps the most detailed account is in the Gospel of John (esp. chapters 13-18), though you can find much of what was said in the other Gospels as well. On Thursday, at the Passover supper, Jesus washed his disciples feet and said "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (John 13:17 ) He broke the bread and said "This is my body, which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) Taking the cup, he said "this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:25). He gave a new commandment, "that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. The world will know you're my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) He foretold both a betrayal (13:21-30) and a denial (13:36-38). He professed that He was "The Way, The Truth, and THE Life, and no one comes to the father, except through me," (14:6) and promised the Holy Spirit (14:15, and elsewhere). He said "I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (15:5) He even prayed for His disciples, not merely the 11 sitting at the table and walking with Him to the Garden of Gesthemene, but for all who would believe (which includes you and includes me). I would say Jesus made the most of His last moments. Of course He had many other words to say to those who would question Him, and those who witnessed Him on the cross, but these words stick out in my mind because it was on this same day, near 2000 years ago, that Jesus said these last final wise words to His disciples as they were assembled together for Passover. Some day we will all have last words. We will draw our final breath. Yet it is not my last words I am concerned with, it is what I hear in the presence of the Father that concerns me. I will hear these first or final words: "Well done," or "I never knew you." It doesn't matter how well I lived, how much I accomplished, how hard I worked, how many times I've preached, how many devotionals I've typed, or anything else besides. It's those words "Well done, my good and faithful servant" that will matter in light of all eternity. I pray that you and I will all hear them as we move on to His presence, and that we remain in His presence and will in THIS life. From John 17: English Standard Version 20“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.24Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.25O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.26I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Famous Last words Answer Key 1. Frank Sinatra
2. Marie Antoinette (After accidentally stepping on her executioner's foot) 3. Harriet Tubman (Singing with her family on her death bed in 1913)
4, John Wayne (To His Wife)
5. Vince Lombardi (To His Wife)
6. Benjamin Franklin (After his daughter told him to shift position in bed so he could breath more easily)
7. Actor Michael Landon (After his son said it's time to move on, hopefully on to the Highway to Heaven!)
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