H. Smith.
We cannot live long, in this passing world, with all its changes, without being called to face those sad moments when we have to part with some loved one. Do not the last words uttered in moments linger in the memory with a special place in the affections? If this be so with the last words of fellow creatures, how much more should we cherish the last words uttered by JESUS.
In that touching scene described in the closing chapter of the Gospel of John, we hear the Lord's last parting words to His disciples, when He said, "Follow thou me" (John 21:22).
In the solemn scene brought before us in the address to the church in Laodicea, where we behold the Lord standing outside the door, we hear His last words to the professing church, as He says, "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).
Finally at the close of the Revelation, we hear, from the glory, the Lord's last words to a needy world, as He says, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
How infinitely touching and tender are these last words, addressed to failing disciples, to a fallen church, and a needy world. May we then linger over these words, cherish them in our hearts, and seek grace to enter into their deep meaning.
The Last Words to Believers: "Follow thou Me."
In the Gospel of John we have a beautiful presentation of the Lord as "the shepherd of the sheep," and as we trace His path through this wilderness world, as depicted by John, we see the Shepherd calling His sheep by name; leading them out of earthly folds, to gather them around Himself, according to His own words, "Then he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him" (John 10:4).
The Gospel opens with two disciples who heard John speak of Jesus, with the result that "they followed Jesus." The next day, we read that Jesus "finds Philip, and says to him, follow me" (John 1:36-37, 43).
In the course of the Gospel the Lord tells His disciples that "He that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). If, as too often happens with us, our way seems dark, does it not warm us that we are but feebly following Him?
Further, the Lord tells us that,"If any man serve me, let him follow me." Alas! it is possible to be active in service without following Christ, only to find, like Martha of old, that we shall be "cumbered about much service." True service is the outcome of following Christ; then, indeed, the servant will learn something of the truth, and blessedness, of the Lord's words, "Where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honour" (John 12:26). Failing to carry out this exhortation, all service will be in vain, all activity will be fruitless, all zeal will fall short of carrying out His blessed will. Following Him we shall be enabled to overcome difficulties, pass through trials, resist temptations and serve according to His mind.
Finally, as the Gospel opens with the Lord's words to Philip, "Follow me," so it closes with His words to Peter, "Follow thou me."
Very blessedly these last words bring Christ, Himself, before or souls. There is a danger of resting content with knowing that we are saved from judgment by the work of Christ, and being little exercised as to having before us the Person of Christ. Even so, in preaching His work, we may forget His Person. One has truly said that, "He has made us personally His objects; and He looks for it that we make Him ours. The Spirit delights to tell of the work of Christ and to bear it in its preciousness and sufficiency to the heart and conscience...But still the work of the Lord Jesus Christ may be the great subject, where He Himself, is but a faint object; and the soul will thus be a great loser" (J.G.B.).
As sinners we need the work of Christ for the salvation of our souls; but, as believers, we need the Person of Christ to save us from backsliding; to keep us in temptations; to carry us through trials, and lead us into the enjoyment of heavenly blessings.
Surely, then, these last parting words of the Lord have a voice for us all, though they were directly uttered to a true disciple who had been graciously restored after a grievous fall. There was a time when Peter had boasted in his love to the Lord. He had said, "Though all shall be offended because of Thee yet will I never be offended." Alas! when the test came, though all forsook the Lord and fled, yet Peter's failure was greater than that of others; for, as we know, he denied the Lord with curses and oaths. Not realising the deceitfulness of his own heart, and its desperate wickedness, he trusted in his own fancied strength, instead of looking to the Lord to keep him. But though we fail, the Lord does not change, "Having loved His own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." We may be allowed to fall to learn the evil of the flesh, but the tender love of the Lord restores our souls. By this restoring grace Peter is brought to own "Lord thou knowest all things." It is as if Peter said, "I do not know all the evil of my heart, but you know it all, and you know that at the bottom of my heart I love you, even if, after my terrible break down no one else might know it, and you alone can keep me." This broken-hearted man being restored, the Lord can say to him, as to each one of us, this last parting word, "Follow thou Me."
Let us remember that in these last words to believers, the Lord Jesus does not ask us to undertake some outstanding service, or make any great sacrifice, that would only be possible for the few. He does not ask us to do anything that would create a great stir in the world, or bring us into prominence before one another. He asks us to do that which is possible for the youngest believer as well as the oldest saint, for the most obscure Christian as for the most gifted. He asks us to follow Him.
In seeking to answer to this last request we do well to enquire what is involved in following Christ? First, to follow anyone means that in some measure we are attracted to that person and keep him in sight. And surely it is only as we are attracted to the Lord and by faith keep Him before our souls that we shall follow the Lord? Who then is this glorious Person who asks as to follow Him? None less than the Only begotten Son, Who became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. One who in truth can tell us all things that ever we have done, and yet in grace say, Come to Me. One who knows the worst about us and yet loves us. Furthermore, let us remember, that the One who invites us to follow Him, has been entirely rejected by men. The world did not know Him, and His own nation would not receive Him. He was, and still is, the despised and rejected of men.
Secondly, to follow a person necessitates that we walk in the path that he has trodden. The Lord could not rest in a world that rejected the grace of God. Thus He became a pilgrim and a stranger in this world. He went through it but He was not of it. In passing through it He has marked out a path for His people. It has been truly said, "Adam was not a pilgrim in Paradise; and we shall not be pilgrims in heaven: there was no need for a road in the one, and we shall find none in the other, as if we wished to get out of it...Neither the rest of God, nor the rest of man, is to be found upon the earth, and what we want is a path across the desert. There is only one which is sure, and One alone could trace it; and faith alone discerns it; it is Jesus who says, 'Follow me.' We need a path, and the path is found" (J.N.D.). To follow a rejected Christ will mean that we take a path that leads us apart from the world, and outside the religious camp to share the reproach of Christ.
Thirdly, to follow the Lord implies, not only that we follow in the path His feet have trodden, but, that, in our little measure we act as He acted in the path. So Peter, to whom these words were personally addressed, can say to us, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:21-23).
Fourthly, if to follow a rejected Christ will mean that we shall be called to share His reproach, and may involve insults and suffering, it will also mean that we shall enjoy the blessings into which the Lord leads His sheep, so blessedly unfolded in the Twenty-third Psalm, and the Tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. Following the great Shepherd of the sheep we shall be led into green pastures, and beside the still waters. It may, indeed, lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, but, even so, He will be with us, and preserve us from every enemy. Moreover, we are assured that if we follow Him, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life.
Finally, to follow Him will lead us where He has gone far into the depths of glory, to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. So the Lord can say to us, "In my father's house are many mansions...and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
The Lord is Himself gone before,
He has marked out the path that we tread;
It's as sure as the love we adore,
We have nothing to fear nor to dread.
There is but that one in the waste,
Which His footsteps have marked as His own;
And we follow in diligent haste
To the seats where He's put on His crown.
Till then 'tis the path Thou hast trod,
Our delight and our comfort shall be;
We're content with Thy staff and Thy rod,
Till with Thee all Thy glory we see.
The Last Words to the Professing Church: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come into him, and will sup with him and he with me" (Rev 3:20).
In the Second and Third chapters of the Revelation the church is viewed as left in this world to be a witness for Christ. From the Lord's addresses to the churches we learn that the christian profession has completely broken down in its responsibility, and that in its last phase the condition of the great profession will be one of self-complacency combined with utter indifference to Christ. The failure that commenced with the loss of first love to Christ, ends with the loss of Christ, Himself. If He no longer has the first place in our hearts, the time will come when we shall no longer desire His company - when He will be outside our door. As of old He left corrupt Judaism so the time comes when He has to take a place outside corrupt Christendom. But if, in corrupt Judaism the Lord, with tears, made a last appeal to the nation saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes;" so, now, as He takes a place outside corrupt Christendom, He, with pleading words, counsels professors to come to Him that they may have the true riches, and that their eyes may be anointed that they may see.Then we hear His last words, so full of encouragement, as they tell us that in the darkest day, it is still possible for the individual to enjoy the richest blessing. No longer does the Lord speak to the great profession that is blind to its need and deaf to every appeal, but He appeals to any man that hears His voice. To such He can say if he will "open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me." He makes no promise that such will be used in any great public work that would bring him into prominence in the world wherein the professing church has utterly failed, but he will be led into the secret enjoyment of spiritual blessing, for not only will the Lord sup with him, and thus enter in perfect sympathy into his trials and exercises, but He will lead such to sup with Himself and thus be led into the enjoyment of the Lord's things. How blessed that amidst the encircling gloom it is still possible to hold communion with the Lord, and taste of heavenly blessings.
Oh, I will come in and sup, dear soul,
We will mingle thine and Mine;
Thou shalt drink from my heart's full cup, dear soul,
Thou shalt taste of My kingdom's wine.
I will bring bring bright cheer from the board above, -
A fellowship blest and free;
A glory of joy, a rapture of love,
A heaven of song, - for thee!
The Last Words to a Fallen World: "Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). In the course of the Revelation we hear the voices of angels and saints, but at last every other voice is silent as we listen to the One Who is brought before us as "I JESUS." He speaks to His own in presenting Himself as the bright and Morning Star, but His last words! - and the closing words of the Bible - carry a message from the Lord in glory to a needy world. On earth He had said to the weary "Come," and now, from the glory He can still say to any thirsty soul "Come" "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."