Your Son, Your Mother

Scripture: John 19:25-27 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27 NLT)

The consensus of the Gospel accounts is that Jesus was nailed to the cross at around nine in the morning, that the sky darkened at around noon, that Jesus died at about three in the afternoon, and with his death, there was an earthquake that ripped the curtain in the Temple, split rocks apart and even opened tombs in a nearby cemetery.

Later in the morning, after the guards had gambled for Jesus’ clothing and the crowd of onlookers began to gradually drift away, Jesus saw his mother standing near the cross beside John. With an agonizing effort, Jesus raised himself so he could take a deep breath and said to his mother, “I love you, Mom! John’s your son now, in my place.” Taking another painful breath, he looked at John and said, “John, thanks for staying with me! My Mom’s going to be your Mom now!” John knew what Jesus meant and from then on he took her into his home and took care of her.

This, friends, is what it’s like when the God of the universe becomes one of us! As the Lamb of God hung between heaven and earth, with each drop of his blood paying the price of our redemption, atoning once for all for the sins of the world, the Son of Man told his Mother he loved her and made arrangements for her care in the home of his best friend John.

This is God’s love for the one and for all. This is why as Christ followers, we enter into a relationship with God and never merely subscribe to the doctrines and practices of a religion. This is why we know that God sees and cares for each person, each circumstance and challenge of each life at the same time he moves forward his plan and purpose and his eternal Kingdom. This is why the Almighty is also Abba, our Father. This is why the King of Kings is also our Good Shepherd!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for loving the world and for loving each one of us. I don’t know how you do it, the macro and the micro, the eternal and the moment, the one among the many, but thank you! Amen.