On this day, February 28th, 1983, the last episode of “M.A.S.H.” aired on CBS. It is still the most watched final episode of any television series in history with 106 million viewers tuning in that night. [1] From 1983-2010, the episode titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” held the record for the most viewers for a single television broadcast, including Super Bowl broadcasts. [2]
The show is a fictional depiction of the lives of U.S. soldiers serving in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (aka M.A.S.H.) during the Korean War.
The last episode consisted of a series of goodbyes between the characters as the war was called to a ceasefire. The final (and most memorable scene) depicts the final goodbye of the two main characters, who were best friends and fellow surgeons on the show: B.J. Hunnicutt and “Hawkeye” Pierce. The lasting image is that of Hawkeye, played by Alan Alta, taking off from a helicopter, seeing “Goodbye” written in rocks placed by his friend. [3]
The final episode and final scene of M.A.S.H. showed the gripping emotion and heightened significance of goodbyes.
Think of the goodbyes in your life. I bet they are easy to recall. A goodbye after a break-up. Saying goodbye to an older sibling attending college. The first goodbye as a child attends school. Holding the hand of a parent and saying goodbye as they take their final breath on earth.
Goodbyes are painful. The Lord Jesus faced Himself all the painful goodbyes. He likely grieved his earthly father, Joseph. And on the cross, He suffered the painful goodbyes by his betrayer (Judas Iscariot), by his denyer (Peter), and by most of His followers. And Jesus, through willing obedience, said goodbye to His Heavenly Father through death. Jesus understands goodbyes thoroughly as He faced the hardest goodbye in humanity’s history.
Yet, in Christ, goodbyes can also be hopeful.
Christ’s goodbye to His Father was not in vain. It actually was the means that won those who believe in Him eternal life, salvation, and unity with God. There is the wonderful promise that: “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
While this life will hold many goodbyes, the good news of the gospel is that we never have to say goodbye to Christ. Amen.
______________
Footnotes:
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/28/106-million-people-watched-mash-finale-35-years-ago-no-scripted-show-has-come-close-since/
- Wittebols, James H. (2003). Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America. McFarland. pp. 161–166. ISBN 9780786417018. Retrieved May 15, 2009
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dndoL1oUpGw