The Grand Ending of Death!

Acts 20:17-27 The Grand Ending!

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. 18 When they arrived, he said,"You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally-- 19 laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. 20 I didn't skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, 21 urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life- change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus. 22"But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. 23 I do know that it won't be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. 24 But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. 25"And so this is good- bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's inaugurated kingdom. 26 I've done my best for you, given you my all, 27 held back nothing of God's will for you.

The Gospel John 17:1-4 

1 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. 2 You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. 3 And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. 

Food for thought!

For Jesus (in John 17:1-7) and Paul (in Eph 20:17-27) life has reached a climax and grand ending, and that is DEATH. They both know it! Paul knows it, (Acts 20:25) "And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you." Jesus knows it too, "Father, it is time." (Jn 17:1). Do you know that every day, you and I are moving closer to our climax, our death? Let us approach our death not as our a disaster, but as our climax; our grand ending. 

For both Paul and Jesus, death was their hour of glory, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified" (Jn 12:23). What Jesus is doing is to approach his death not as disaster but as glory. As you might know, the ultimate revealer for all of us is not our life but our death; we all reveal ourselves most at and in our death. It is when we die and how we die that shows what and who we really have been. In life we may be misunderstood, undervalued, condemned and called names, but it is our death that shows our true place in the scheme of things and in history. This is why people make eulogies at funerals; they can't think of anything but the good the person represented. The more good you be and do (not have) in this life, the more eulogies at your funeral.

Just to give some examples in history. When Abrahan Lincoln was short dead, even his enemies saw his greatness. One of his critics, remarked when he saw the body, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen." When Joan of Arc was burned to death by the English, one of the secretaries of the King of England left the scene saying, "We are all lost because we have burned a saint." When mother Theresa die, even non Christians wept. When Nelson Mandela die, the whole world paid tribute. Examples are abundant. But the best is of our Lord. When Jesus died, one of the soldiers that crucified him confessed, "This truly was the Son of God." (Mt 27:54).

What brought joy and satisfaction to both Jesus and Paul was the completion of their work. Jesus said, "I have accomplished the work which you gave me to do." Paul said in verse 24, "What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God." Paul merely wanted to finish his assignment; he simply wanted to run his race well and to receive the victor’s crown. There is just one person we need to run to please: Jesus Christ!

Paul could leave Ephesus knowing that he had done his job well and that he had all the people trained and placed in places where they could continue the work of God. He knows that he has done a difference in some people's life. May we be able to echo Paul’s words when we leave this world behind. Before death, remember to make a difference in the life of as many people as you can. This is what will give us joy and satisfaction, as you lay dying some day.

BTW (by the way): Keep doing the last thing God told you to do until He tells you something else.