Tim Keller’s Last Sermon
By Jeff Schoch
It was a Thursday evening, and I had just sat down after a long day. I was watching TV with my wife Ali when she suddenly exclaimed, "oh no." Her tone indicated that it wasn't going to be good news. I had no idea what had caused her reaction, given the events of the past few years. All she said was, "You need to check Tim Keller's Instagram."
I wasn't sure if Ali couldn't bring herself to tell me or if she believed it would be better if I read it myself. But the mention of Tim Keller made me understand why she was hesitant to repeat what she had read. My wife knew how much I respected and admired Tim Keller. For fifteen years, hardly a week had gone by without me reading one of his books or listening to a sermon or podcast. I considered Keller to be a mentor from afar. As a pastor myself, he embodied the kind of teacher and preacher I aspired to be. When I first encountered his work, I was captivated by his honest and thoughtful insights into the Scriptures.
Having grown up outside the church, I was skeptical of preachers who relied heavily on voice modulation, intonation, and dramatic pauses. But in Keller, I found a genuine wonder and love for God and the Gospel of Grace that gave me hope. As a skeptical New Yorker, I resonated with Keller's communication style, as he had experienced the same streets as I had. There was no grandstanding or pandering to a specific segment of the Christian subculture. I felt a kinship with him, even though I always admired his intellect. I thought to myself, "This guy understands me." It's no wonder that many other skeptics have found hope and truth through his words.
Keller's sermons have not only shaped my ministry but also my life. His emphasis on the Gospel of grace helped me see the overarching story of the Bible and where my life fits into that story. His teachings echo in my mind as I pastor and parent, and his advice on marriage has been invaluable to Ali and me.
The post my wife mentioned that Thursday evening, the night before his passing, was a message from his son Michael on Tim's Instagram account. It read:
"Health Update: Today, Dad is being discharged from the hospital to receive hospice care at home. Over the past few days, he has asked us to pray with him often. He expressed many times through prayer his desire to go home to be with Jesus. His family is very sad because we all wanted more time, but we know he has very little at this point.
In prayer, he said two nights ago, 'I’m thankful for all the people who prayed for me over the years. I’m thankful for my family that loves me. I’m thankful for the time God has given me, but I’m ready to see Jesus... I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.'"
As I read the post, tears welled up in my eyes. Tim's battle with cancer was not a secret, and many people who cherished him, both near and far, had been praying for him and his wife Kathy as they walked this difficult road. We all knew it was only a matter of time. But through tear-filled eyes, I couldn't yet see the final gift Tim had given to the world. In his last words, he vividly and authentically expressed what mattered most to him — his family and his Lord.
The next day, while I was out walking, I called my wife to see how her day was going. Once again, she had to deliver bad news. Tim had passed away. I instantly felt relieved that he didn't have to suffer any longer. I was grateful that he had gone home and his pain had ended. I prayed for Kathy and the rest of his family. As I continued walking, I opened Instagram and read the post for myself.
"Timothy J Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home. Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead, and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words, 'There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest. See you soon, Dad.'"
As I contemplated Tim's final moments and the sentiment on his heart and lips, I was awestruck. As a minister myself, I have sat with the dying, and I can tell you that when we see the end approaching, our hearts break wide open, and everything within pours out all at once. It is disheartening to witness someone struggling with regret, unbelief, or hostility in their final moments, but it happens far too often. Yet, for some, like Tim, there is a sense of gratitude, hope, and even longing.
With his final words, Tim blessed us all one last time. He often quoted Rodney Stark and Tertullian, who asserted in their own times that witnessing a sincere Christian die with an intact sense of wonder and hope was an incredibly potent form of evangelism. During the plagues that afflicted Rome in the second and third centuries, while others fled to the countryside, Christians stayed behind to care for the sick, often at the cost of their own lives. When the victims recovered, they recalled the extraordinary selflessness and bravery of those Christians who cared for them, eventually seeking the same peace in Jesus. The early martyrs, facing lions and slaughter in the arena, met their end singing hymns and praising God. It was a testament to the power of the Gospel to bestow courage and peace even in the face of death. And with his final words, Tim bestowed upon us a similar gift.
Upon reading some of his parting words, the words I’ve shared here, I found myself yearning to know Christ more. Through his last fight with pain, Tim, in a way, preached his final and perhaps most powerful sermon of all. I hope and pray for that kind of peace and courage when my time comes and that those I leave behind will be sure of the hope I had.
Godspeed Tim and thank you.