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“Woman, behold, your son… Behold, your mother” (John 19:26-27). Part 3 0f 7. Introduction. As Jesus our Lord was on the cross, His “last words” teach us many lessons.
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“Woman, behold, your son… Behold, your mother” (John 19:26-27) Part 3 0f 7
Introduction • As Jesus our Lord was on the cross, His “last words” teach us many lessons • In this series I hope to share with you some insight into those final moments before Jesus took His last breath and died. • In our last lessons we studied, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”
Introduction • As Jesus our Lord was on the cross, His “last words” teach us many lessons • In this series I hope to share with you some insight into those final moments before Jesus took His last breath and died. • In our last lessons we studied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise”
“Woman, behold, your son…” • Death is a time when man would usually be focused on himself and we see Jesus focused on others • John is the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23)and he and Mary, the mother of Jesus, had gathered at the foot of the cross with others (John 19:25-26) • Jesus takes the time to speak to those that He feels responsible for on earth
“Woman, behold, your son…” • Rightly did Simeon say to Mary, “a sword will pierce even your own soul…”(Luke 2:35) • It is not easy to see your child die…not to mention the death of the cross • Think about all of the ways Mary had a sword pierce her own soul (See Matt. 1:18-25; 2:16-20; 13:54-57; John 19:17-18)
“Woman, behold, your son…” • Mary never interfered with Jesus’ mission on the earth • When Jesus was dying, He tells her that John is now whom she is to adopt as her own in His place • Jesus never calls her “mother” but helps Mary to see that He is about His Father’s business and is about to leave her on the earth(See John 2:4)
“Woman, behold, your son…” • Mary would have taken the place of Jesus, but could do nothing for redemption • Mary needed the redemption of the blood of His cross and she admitted it (Luke 1:46-47) • Jesus shows no disrespect in calling her “woman” because He wanted her to know for sure that He was a heavenly Son and she was an earthly mother.
“Behold, your mother” • Why did Jesus commit His mother to John and not His half-brothers and / or sisters? (Matt. 13:55) • Not only did Jesus’ siblings live in the Galilean region, but they also failed to believe in Jesus as the Christ (John 7:5) • Fortunately, they eventually came to be numbered with the disciples in the upper room on Pentecost (Acts 1:14)
“Behold, your mother” • John is selected for the task of taking care of Mary when Jesus is gone. • When Jesus went to the cross, the disciples left Jesus when one would think their faith would last through anything (Matt. 26:56, 35, 31) • Perhaps we are weaker than what we sometimes want to think. How close would you have stood to the cross?(Job 2:4)
“Behold, your mother” • Prophecy stated that Jesus would suffer alone (Isaiah 63:3) • When John returned to the cross, He was not scolded but granted a great responsibility • Since John understood the love of Christ better than all other disciples, he is the one most fitted for the task of caring for Mary
“Behold, your mother” • At the cross we are all called to take the place of Christ in the world (John 17:18; Luke 14:26-27) • Would you have taken care of Mary if you were asked to? • Interestingly, we are called to be related to the Lord in a spiritual way, taking on similar responsibilities (Mark 3:33-35; Matt. 25:40)
“Behold, your mother” • When we sing, “Jesus keep me near the cross” do we really mean what we say? • How close we are to the cross does not determine our salvation…many at the cross mocked the Lord • May we all accept the responsibility that the cross places on each of us (Gal. 6:14)
Application • Are you related to Jesus in the spiritual family of God? • Are you willing to become a brother or sister to the Lord in obeying the Father’s will? • Let us all remember that Jesus died on the cross to make our salvation possible (Heb. 5:8-9)
Are you keeping your duty at the cross? • Hear (John 12:48) • Believe(John 8:24) • Repent(Luke 13:3, 5) • Confess(Matt. 10:32-33) • Baptized(Mark 16:16) • Faithful(Rev. 2:10)