Legacy pt8

The saddest words in the Bible are most likely “Jesus wept.” As Jesus show the depths of his humanity and weeps over the grief of his friends at the death of Lazarus.

The saddest passage in the Bible is most likely the verses we will look at today. Paul’s final words to his spiritual son, to those who will hold his legacy, to us, are dripping with emotion. They are given by a man who knows he has left it all on the altar, and who knows his time of going home approaches.

Two verses in particular stand out- verses 9 and 21 convey his urgency and understanding, and when we get to them, I hope we hear them that way. Because they convey something that we really need today- a sense that we NEED one another in the midst of this life. That we are not intended to go it alone. And that in the end our petty differences pale in comparison to what unites us- our faith in Jesus.

Let’s start with verses 6-8.

In these verses we get the clearest sense yet that Paul knows what he is facing:

drink offering- a total offering where what is poured is fully used up

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (1) The Sacrifice of Life (4:6)

The present tense of the verb for “being poured out” suggests Paul’s awareness that this was an act then underway. Paul was aware that he was slowly dying in God’s service, and he felt that the shedding of his blood in martyrdom would complete the drink offering to God. He viewed the entire ordeal as a libation to God

time of departure- from the earth

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (1) The Sacrifice of Life (4:6)

he described his “departure” or death with a verb that pictures the departure of a ship by lifting its anchor or the breaking up of camp by a group of soldiers. Both the ship and the soldiers were going home, and the idea of going home was an accepted euphemism for death

Paul faces this moment with confidence. He has given all he has to give. Notice here Paul harkens back to previous examples he has given of the Christian life

the good fight- as a soldier

the race- running as one who wants to take the crown

keeping the faith- not going after the false teachers, but staying true to the end to the Gospel he has proclaimed

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (2) The Service of Ministry (4:7)

Paul was not boasting of his accomplishments but was reflecting on his life course with a statement of confidence. He was describing what the grace of God had produced in him.

And the reward for that faithfulness is Jesus. And that has been enough and he wants it to be enough for us as well- “all those who love His appearing”

That kind of grit was rare in Paul’s day as we see in all his letters. It is no less rare in our day. There are so many distractions and alternatives. Easier roads. Seemingly greater rewards. Acclaim. Influence. Power.

But for Paul, they all pale in comparison to Jesus, because he knows Jesus.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (3) The Reward for Obedience (4:8)

Jesus Christ is the Judge who will bestow the award in connection with his return, both to Paul and to all those whose righteous actions demonstrate their longing for Christ’s return. The perfect tense for the Greek participle “have longed” suggests that those in mind had loved Jesus’ appearing in the past and continued to do so up until the moment of reward. To long for Christ’s “appearing” is not a demand for constant discussions of eschatology but a requirement that believers would perform the life-style

Church, can I ask you today, be honest, is what you are pursuing worth as much as Jesus?

What is as powerful?

What is as enduring?

What is as loving?

What is as life giving?

If you find something that can do all that Jesus can do and more, then by all means, pursue it, but I will tell you in 50 years of life, and in 2,000 years of life since the resurrection, over and over again al other gods and humans have fallen short.

And only Jesus has never failed.

Then we come to verse 9.

“Do your best to come to me soon.”

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 1. A Few Requests and Warnings (4:9–15)

The reference to “quickly” in v. 9 indicates the urgency of the Pauline request. Paul had a foreboding of his fate, but he was not expecting immediate execution. Paul’s previous experience with the Roman judicial system had led to a lengthy confinement (

Not a command. A plea.

Especially when we look a the following verses.

Demas- renounced the faith and Paul

Titus and Crescens- gone on to other ministries

Tychius- gone to Ephesus

Erastus- gone to Corinth

Trophimus- ill in Miletus

Alenander- betrayed Paul

No one came to stand with Paul as his trial.

Only Luke remains- chronicling the last days of the missionary and caring for him in prison.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 1. A Few Requests and Warnings (4:9–15)

Of Paul’s trusted companions only Luke remained with him. He had been with Paul during the first Roman imprisonment (

And who does he ask for- besides Timothy who this letter is addressed to.

Mark.

Remember him? The guy who abandoned Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey? the guy who Paul didn’t want to take on the second journey.

Yeah. That guy.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 1. A Few Requests and Warnings (4:9–15)

Paul’s magnanimity showed itself in his regarding Mark as a fellow worker (

And church there is a valuable lesson here for us. People can grow and change. We don’t practice cancel culture in Christianity. We practice redemption culture.

Mark has gone from someone Paul doesn’t want around to someone who Paul wants to see in his last days.

We NEED one another.

We draw strength from one another.

We are not intended to be alone.

Here is the other thing I want you to catch. Paul wants to see people but he wants something else. Look at verse 13.

He asks for a cloak (makes sense something to keep warm in a dank dungeon) nut he wants the books and parchments.

Paul wants to study.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 1. A Few Requests and Warnings (4:9–15)

Most commentators regard the “scrolls” as papyrus rolls and the “parchments” as an expensive, durable writing material made of animal skin. It is impossible to know the contents of the parchments, but suggested contents include personal documents of Paul, the Old Testament Scriptures, or blank sheets of writing paper. Sentiment often favors viewing them as Old Testament Scriptures.

Church that tells me something very important. We are never done. There is no retirement from discipleship.

To our last days, we are students at the Master’s feet.

And look at verse 17-18.

The purpose of his continued study- so that even as he is on trial he can share the Gospel with the people who God has called him to- the Gentiles.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. A Reminder of God’s Delivering Power (4:16–18)

In defending himself before the judge, Paul had used the occasion to proclaim the gospel (cf.

We are never done. If you are still drawing breath, God still has a reason and a mission field for you to preach to. And He will continue to deliver and sustain you until you are done.

And then, and only then, He will call you home.

Paul closes the letter saying hello to fellow workers who are there with Timothy and then he makes one last entreaty- verse 21:

“Do your best to come before winter”

Paul is not sure how many days he has left.

Church there is an urgency here- to be present for one another. We should be quick to come to one another’s aid and support.

This morning, there may well be someone in your life who needs you, who has asked for you, whose heart is heavy or lonely, or broken.

Go before winter.