The Final Bow
Luke 23
KJV
46+ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
I remember growing up I often took part in school plays, one I remember very well was to play the role of Potiphar in the play titled “ Joseph and his brethren” I still remember the name of the girl who played the role of Potiphar’s wife! (1963!!)
At the end of every drama or play we line upstage to introduce ourselves and at a sign from our teacher we all bow to the audience, who respond with a clap.
That short session where we introduced ourselves and took a bow is what we were told is called the final bow. The curtain falls to end the play.
With the above words, Jesus took his final bow signifying the end of His redemptive ministry. It was the end of the chapter. This was summed up by the hymn writer “It is finished was his cry now in Heaven exalted high hallelujah what a Saviour “
When you should take your “final bow” what will you say? Jesus said “It is finished “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit “ what will yours be?
Beloved it would be a privilege and a blessing to be able to bow out with the strength to say a few words. Not many have been able to do that. Most, if not the majority never had the opportunity to say a final goodbye to dear ones.
At many funerals that I’ve attended, there is a phrase that runs through the tributes that are read, it goes like this “Your departure was so sudden, you did not say goodbye to us !” “How we wish you did “.
Nothing is more painful than to lose a loved one who said nothing to you before they took his/her final bow! Beloved do not let the curtain of your life drop without first saying a word to loved ones!
The son of my next-door neighbour told me he was at the bedside of his father before he passed.
He said his father knowing that his time of departure had come beckoned him to come to the bedside; he said his father placed his hands on him, grabbed /held him tightly to himself and bade him farewell!
In the process of holding him tightly to himself, he passed away! That was his final bow! He departed this life in such a manner.
Who will surround you when you are about to take your final bow? Will your wife/husband/children etc be there? And what will be your Final Words? If you do not have any, then start composing one today!
We shall all take our final bow one day, since we are presently on stage and are mere actors. We had our entry and so shall we have our exit when our part of the drama is over.
Prepare your final words for soon you’ll make your final bow! Mine will be “ peace I leave with you “ ! Jesus said, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit “.
My take on the “final bow” that awaits us!