Thomas Jefferson Still Survives!
Thursday, October 9, 2025
“No case is hopeless while Jesus lives.” – C.H. Spurgeon
Following the Revolutionary War, two of the men most responsible for winning America’s independence had a major falling out. John Adams, a Federalist, and Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, had different views as to how the new country should be run. Adams favored a stronger and more centralized federal government whereas Jefferson wanted the individual states to retain as much independence and power as possible.
After George Washington stepped down following his second term in office, Adams – who had served as Washington’s vice-president – was elected to succeed him as president. However, Adams only served a single term because Jefferson, his vice-president, ran against him in 1800, and the long simmering feud between the two Founding Fathers boiled over in one of the nastiest presidential campaigns in our nation’s history.
When Jefferson emerged victorious, it appeared as if he and Adams would remain bitter enemies for the rest of their lives. However, Adams decided to let bygones be bygones and on January 1, 1812, he sent a conciliatory letter to Jefferson wishing him many happy new years to come. Perhaps relieved, Jefferson responded with an equally magnanimous letter, recounting their many shared experiences during the War of Independence.
Over the next 14 years, these two titans of American history renewed their friendship via the mail, becoming closer than ever before. On July 4, 1826, as he laid on his death bed at the age of 90, John Adams uttered his last words, "Thomas Jefferson still survives." Unfortunately, Adams was wrong, because Jefferson had died five hours earlier at the age on 83 at his home in Monticello.
How ironic that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the last two surviving members of the Continental Congress, would both die on the same day… and that day would be the 4th of July?
For Adams, it gave him great comfort as he drew his last breath to think that his dear friend and former enemy Thomas Jefferson was still alive. In the same way, as Christians, we should draw comfort in the knowledge that Jesus Christ – our Savior, Redeemer, and Dearest Friend – is alive forevermore.
And, as Charles Spurgeon points out in today’s quote, because He is alive, no case is hopeless!
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18 (NIV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
