Brad and Debbie Ellgen

John 14-17 The upper room discourse is a rich text which contains an endless truth about the nature of Jesus, the crucifixion, the trinity, God’s will and probably every other major category of theology. However I have long been fascinated with the fact it is Jesus saying his last words to his disciples before his death. It seems to me that last words are so important and can have such an important impact on those who say them well. It also seems to me that we live in a culture where it is very hard to say good-bye well and often people are unsure how to say good-bye well. So I like to look to this passage for a paradigm of farewell. On Friday night we talked about three things that Jesus did in his last words: 1. He encouraged them to press on; keep the faith and keep loving one another. Jesus did this by washing their feet (John 13) and by telling them straight up “Love one another” John 13:34-35. It seems he did this because when we are in transition and feeling loss it is easy to become discouraged and louse faith. As we say good-bye to soldiers I want to encourage them to press on and not to forget what they have learned. 2. Jesus gave them hope that this would not be the end (John 14:1-4). So often when we say good-bye it can feel like “we’ll never have this fellowship again” and Jesus says clearly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. How I thank God for the people that we say good-bye to and then see again. Some times it is the next day, and as our lives have demonstrated the last couple of months, sometimes it is 15 or 20 years. But as people who believe in Jesus and a life after this one no good-bye is final. Someday we will all be together again and live in a place where good-bye will never be spoken. 3. Jesus talked about the nature of their friendship (John 15:13-14). Jesus calls his disciples “friends”. When saying good-bye people should know how important they are to us. That is why at our farewells we provide a time for people to talk to those leaving and a time for those who are leaving to express their feelings to the group. This is often a time of tears and pain, but I think it is so important. 4. Finally Jesus prayed for his friends (John 17:6-19). We closed our time with prayer for our friends who are leaving and for the whole that they will leave here. Ministering in a military community means saying good-bye often. However, everyone has to say good-bye. It is my prayer that as believers in Jesus we will learn to do it well.