Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. — John 13:1

Chapters 13-17 of the Gospel mark the beginning of what some refer to as The Farewell Cycle of Jesus. This means we turn from surveying the ministry of Jesus to the world and turn to the ministry of Jesus that would save the world. But this turn is an epic ending with an epic beginning. It's the ending of a natural union that is going to give birth to a spiritual union.

At that moment, most of the disciples did not comprehend the significance of this transition. Yet, as John reflects on the event approximately 40-70 years later, he recognizes that this final week was Jesus's long goodbye. A long goodbye that Jesus leads his disciples through with tremendous thoughtfulness.

I think we all know that goodbyes are hard, especially when we are saying goodbye to those we love. But endings are a necessary part of life. Everything comes to an end. And how we handle these endings can greatly impact the quality of our subsequent beginnings.

So if you are ending something in the not-so-distant future, I want to implore you to end it well. Steward that transition with tremendous thoughtfulness. Pay attention to your words and actions. Navigate the shift in relationships, jobs, or relocations with care and integrity. Be thoughtful because what you say and do could end up having an effect on someone that might last a long time.

ASK THIS:

1. Have you experienced any significant endings in your life recently? How did you handle those transitions, and what impact did your approach have on your subsequent beginnings?
2. Reflecting on Jesus's long goodbye to his disciples, how can you incorporate thoughtfulness and care into your own farewells and goodbyes? What practical steps can you take to steward those transitions well, considering the potential impact on others involved?

DO THIS: End it well.

PRAY THIS: God, give me the heart to tend to this ending well so that it might leave a spiritual mark on others. Amen.

PLAY THIS: How To Say Goodbye.