Last Words

TITLE: Last Words
DATE:  October 4, 2019
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT:. Jeremiah 29: 11-13 ESV -  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[b] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a criminal who is about to die for his acts?

Some of the offenders have been quite flip in their comments as death approached.. Here are a few examples:

The murderer Richard Loeb was a trifle optimistic about his survival after being stabbed 56 times by a fellow convict. In 1936: Loeb said, "I think I'm going to make it!"

 James Rodgers replied to the question whether he had a last request before facing a firing squad: "Why yes, I'd like a bulletproof vest."

William Palmer, who was hanged in 1856, was told to step on the scaffold's trap door. "Is it safe?" he asked.

Charles Wood, a murderer who died in the electric chair in 1963, faced witnesses for the execution and quipped: "Gents, this is an educational project. You are about to witness the damaging effect electricity has on wood."

In stark contrast, our Lord and Savior was never flip when, He commented about His forthcoming death in Jerusalem. Perhaps that was because Jesus knew that everything hinged upon the successful completion of His serious, saving work.

When the above criminals were sentenced to death, that was, for most of them, the end of the line.

• From then on they knew they would never add anything constructive to society.
• They would never accomplish anything of a positive nature.
• They would only be remembered for their criminal acts and their last lines.

Things were quite different for Jesus.

He had lived His entire life with the cross and the empty tomb as His destiny. Yet, even under the death sentence, He healed the sick, comforted the downtrodden and affected the lives of tens of thousands. As He went to die in Jerusalem He knew that the new covenant established with His blood would change eternity for millions more.

When He rode into Jerusalem, the crowds proclaimed Him the Son of David and shouted their "Hosannas".  Jesus did not bask in the loudness of their cries. He did not change His style, or the content of His message.

He knew Who He was: The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.

THE PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, thank You for taking my salvation more seriously than I do. Thank You for completing a job which I could never finish. This prayer of appreciation is offered up in Your Name. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html