Words from the cross

Every year around Resurrection Day, churches all across the world have programs and preachers have sermons that center on the last seven words of Jesus. This year I am going to focus on John 19:25-27. 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Have you ever thought about why Jesus did this? When you think about the scene it's really quite remarkable. Jesus, while on the cross makes arrangements for his mother and a close friend. He was in pain, His body was broken, His head bloodied, His body tired from the stress of being on the cross, and He was thinking of others!? Why? Let's not even think about the "how".  How do you muster up the strength to be anything but selfish at that moment... let alone selfless. But, why? Why did He do it?

Why did He do this for John? John was most likely the youngest of the disciples. Some estimate his age to be 13-15 years old. He refers to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" indicating, I believe, a closeness that would surely cause a young boy to hurt to the point of needing a motherly figure to comfort him at the loss of Jesus. He had an emotional need. 

His mother? You may not realize that Jesus was not an only child. He had at least 6 siblings, four of whom were male. Any of them should have been qualified to care for their mother. Financially, I have little doubt that they could have cared for her. But, at the moment they appear to be disconnected from Jesus' plight. (See Matt 13:55-57). I believe that Jesus did not wish His mother to live in traditions that He was trying to save her (and the world) from. Due to their belief system, their lifestyles would have been in direct opposition to Jesus. So she would have needed a person who understood what Jesus was really about to care for her. 

Why did He do it? He was doing what He always does, and what He had always done; He was meeting the need. 

Think about your life, your needs, and your savior. In your life are their needs that you have not allowed Jesus to meet? Are you stopping the savior from saving you? Are you the inadvertent cause of unhappiness by an unwillingness to surrender or simply move?
On another train of thought, while in the middle of your situation are you selfish, or selfless?  
We should strive to be like Jesus. We should try being selfless in the midst of our trials. And by all means, allow Jesus to make provisions for you. His work on the cross made provisions for your soul, but relationship with Him gives even more.

I love you, and I am praying for you.
~Pastor Erroyl
SALT