Finishing Well with Special Friends

Warren Brosi

11/09/25

Dominant Thought: We finish well with Christ and His church.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to understand the value of friendships to finish well with Jesus.

I want my listeners to sense the presence of Jesus to help us finish well.

I want my listeners to reflect on the relationships need to have to finish well.

A person’s final words can have lasting power. As we turn the page to 2 Timothy 4, we encounter some of the final words from the apostle Paul to his apprentice, Timothy. Paul is in a Roman prison. His execution may be days or weeks away. And in these final words, he gives encouragement and an example of finishing well.

As we look at the 2 Timothy 4, we discover two gifts to help us finish well.

First, we finish well with a variety of friends (2 Timothy 4.9-15, 19-21). In these final verses of 2 Timothy, Paul calls out 17 different people by name. As you look through this list of names, we see lots of different people.

Paul wants Timothy to come to him quickly (2 Timothy 4.9). Then, he mentions Demas who “loved this world has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4.10). In the span of a couple of verses we encounter love. In 2 Timothy 4.8, Paul promises the crown of righteousness that the LORD the righteous judge will award to Paul and all who have “longed” or “loved” his appearing. Do you have friends who love Jesus or this world? Paul knows the pain of having a friend desert him. It’s the same word for forsaken when Jesus was on the cross.

Paul highlights that others like Crescens and Titus have gone to other places. Nothing negative highlighted here. Maybe they are visiting family or pursuing other ministry opportunities.

Then, in 2 Timothy 4.11, Paul writes, “Only Like is with me.” Luke, the doctor. The one who wrote the gospel and the book of Acts. The one who was a traveling companion of Paul on those missionary journeys. Luke is with Paul in Rome. Paul is in prison awaiting execution. Two older men finishing well.

Then, Paul writes something surprising. “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4.11). Mark, another gospel writer. He’s also called John Mark. He went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey recorded in Acts 13.5, “John was with them as their helper.” Part of the way through the journey, Luke writes, “Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem” (Acts 13.13). Later Paul and Barnabas want to go back an encourage the people from their first missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to bring along John Mark. Paul didn’t like that idea since John Mark deserted them earlier. Again Luke records, “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15.39). Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took Silas and they went their separate ways. Now, years later as Paul looks out from prison in Rome, he values John Mark once again. Calling him helpful to him in his final days. In this relationship, we see the picture of forgiveness and second chances. No room for grudges or bitterness when death is approaching.

Paul highlights some others: Tychicus, he sent to Ephesus. He left a cloak with Carpus. He wants Timothy to bring the cloak, the books, and the parchments. It could be Paul’s legal documents, but more probably, the sacred Scriptures. It would be the Greek Old Testament. He wants his Bible in his final days.

He calls out another enemy of the gospel, Alexander the metalworker. Maybe he made idols. He may have turned Paul into the Romans leading to Paul’s arrest. Paul warns Timothy to be on his guard against him. Paul leaves Alexander in God’s hands. “The Lord will repay him for what he has done” (2 Timothy 4.14).

If we skip down to 2 Timothy 4.19, we see more friends that Paul names. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.” Priscilla and Aquila, that godly couple. About half to the times in the New Testament, Priscilla is listed first ahead of her husband. Maybe she was the more vocal one or the one who came to faith in Christ before her husband. They offered hospitality and were co-workers of Paul. They made tents like Paul (Acts 18.2-3)

Onesiphorus was highlighted in 2 Timothy 1.16-18. He searched fro Paul and refreshed him and was not ashamed of Paul’s chains. You need friends who will search out for you and stand with you when no one else will.

Paul mentions others: Erastus remained at Corinth, Trophimus was ill at Miletus. A second time, Paul commands Timothy, “Do your best to come...” (2 Timothy 4.9, 21). Then, Paul sends greetings from mutual friends from Rome: Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and the brothers and sisters.

Who are the people who are helping you finish well the race of faith in Jesus?

As you look over this list of names, its quite a list. Matt Proctor highlights the differences in his book Finish Line Faith (pp. 113-114).

Occupation: Luke is a doctor (Colossians 4.14). Erastus is a politician (Rom. 16.13). Priscilla and Aquila are tentmakers (Acts 18.2-3).

Age: Timothy and Mark are younger thirtysomethings. Paul and Luke are likely in their sixtes.

Gender: Men and women are on this list. Priscilla and Claudia are valued as fellow believers.

Race: Paul and Mark are Jewish. Titus and Luke are Greeks. Timothy is half-Jewish and half-Greek. Pudens and Linus are Roman.

There’s a name for these types of relationships. We call it church. It ‘s the family of God.

Year ago, I would volunteer with a group from the Bible College to serve at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) in Jefferson City, MO. On Friday nights, we would visit 7 House. It was the inmates last house before their release from incarceration. I would go up to JCCC once a month for a couple of school years. We would set up those white plastic chairs in rows for church each visit. Some of the inmates were at table playing cards, but they had the opportunity to listen the gospel. After a few months, AJ and I became friends. He would come looking for me. He and I would sing a song together each month out of their maroon hymnal. One of the first words out of his mouth each month was, “What song are we going to sing?” I’d generally defer to him and we pick a song out of the hymn book. We’d stand in front of the 10-12 college students and the dozen or so inmates and sing songs to Jesus. AJ. To look at me and AJ, we were quite different. I was over six foot. He was barely 5 foot tall. My skin was white. His skin was black. I was in my twenties. He had 10 or 20 years on me. He was able to walk out of the penitentiary that night. He walked back upstairs to his bunk. However, the blood of Jesus brought us together as brothers in Christ. AJ.

Do you have anyone like AJ in your life? At first glance, it wouldn’t seem to make sense. But through the blood of Jesus, you are brothers and sisters.

Bob Russell, retired minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY says, “A man doesn’t have to be my twin to be my brother.”

We finish well with Christ and His Church. We’ve look at this list of names Paul relates to Timothy. There’s still one more name that Paul wants Timothy to hear. One more name to focus, to preach, to remain faithful. It is the name of Jesus.

Second, we finish well with the presence of Christ (2 Timothy 4.1-8, 16-18, 22). 2 Timothy 4 begins with a charge from Paul to Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4.1-2). Paul reminds Timothy that life is lived out in the presence of Christ.

Matt Proctor tells the following story (Finish Line Faith, p. 119).

A mother washing dishes after dinner asked her little boy to go out on the back porch and get the broom. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched her five-year-old got to the back door, open it, and look out for a few moments before returning to sit at the kitchen table. Sensing what was wrong, she sat down at the table. “You’re scared of the dark, aren’t you? she asked her son. He nodded his head.

His mother smiled reassuringly, “You don’t have to be afraid, honey. Remember Jesus is always with you. That means he’s right out there on that back porch too, so you don’t have to be afraid. Okay?”

“Okay, Mama,” he said. His mother went back to her dishes and watched again as her son went to the back door. He cracked it open, poked his head out, but still didn’t step out. “Jesus, I know you’re right out here on this back porch with me,” she heard him say. “So do you mind handing me that broom over there?”

The presence of Christ helps us finish strong. Paul challenges Timothy to preach the word, the inspired word of God (2 Timothy 3.16-17) because people will not put up with sound doctrine, but will gather teachers to tell them what they want to hear.

Remember the presence of Christ and His coming. Paul continues by describing his final moments. In 2 Timothy 4.6-8, he gives several images of finishing well. First, I am being poured out like a drink offering. His life is an offering to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12.1-2). Second, the time for his departure is near. He is like a ships whose ropes are loosed and is setting sail for a final voyage. Third, I have fought the good fight. He has fought evil and finished well. Fourth, I have finished the race. He has rounded the final lap and preparing to cross the finish line. Fifth, I have kept the faith. He has not turned away from his faithful God.

He sees the crown of righteousness that the Lord will award to him and all who have loved His appearing.

Then, in 2 Timothy 4.16, Paul describes how Jesus stood with him when no one else came to his defense. Paul even offers forgiveness to those who deserted him when he said, “May it not be held against them” (2 Timothy 4.16). Then Paul declares, “But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4.18). Jesus will help you finish strong. Jesus will give us strength so we can declare the good news of His kingdom.

Then, Paul drops this one liner, “And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” (2 Timothy 4.18). What’s the story there, Paul? Was it a physical lion? He encountered all types of suffering as a follower of Jesus: shipwrecks, beatings, sleepless nights, hunger, cold naked (see 2 Corinthians 4.4-5; 11.23-33).

Paul confesses, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4.18). Paul trusts the presence of Christ to watch over him even in a Roman dungeon awaiting execution.

These challenges that Paul describes sound similar to what David wrote about in Psalm 22. It’s a Psalm Jesus quoted on the cross. (Matt Proctor, Finish Line Faith, p. 122):

“Why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22.1) “All men forsook me” (2 Timothy 4.16, KJV). “There is no one to help” (Psalm 22.11). “No one came to my support” (2 Timothy 4.16). “Rescue me from the mouths of lions” (Psalm 22.21). “I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” (2 Timothy 4.17). “All the ends of the earth will turn to the LORD” (Psalm 22.27). “All the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4.17). “Deliver me from the sword...from the power of the dogs...from the horns of the wild oxen” (Psalm 22.20-21). “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack” (2 Timothy 4.18).

Paul concludes this letter which may be his last letter written with these words, “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all” (2 Timothy 4.22). Paul wants Timothy and the church he leads to experience the presence of Jesus in their spirit.

We finish well with Christ and His church.

I hope we all can say as Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul’s earthly journey finished and he passed the baton of faith to Timothy who carried the baton for his generation and passed it on to those in Ephesus who passed the baton to others throughout history. Who passed the baton of faith to you? Was it a parent, grandparent, friend, coworker, missionary, minister? Who are you passing the baton of faith in the next generation?

We finish well with Christ and His church.