His Mother’s Day

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

The scene of the crucifixion is fraught with all kinds of imagery and pain. There is the imagery of the world closing in in its wickedness, the light giving way to darkness, the torn veil, and the intentional slaughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is the pain of His suffering which goes beyond our ability to properly portray in word or art, because the true pain is the suffering of bearing every bit of the world’s sin – and having to see it, and taste it, and be it. A true curse. No person has ever been cursed to such an extent.

And yet, in the midst of all of this, (the culmination, the epitome of physical, psychological, and Spiritual pain,) there is a beautiful little flower which is formed and takes root.

Looking down from the cross, Jesus sees two of the ones He loves dearly. Since His love is unconditional, infinite, and eternal, we cannot say Jesus loved these two more than the others - but we can say He loved them, and that is more than enough for any of us. He loves us.

Need proof?

Here, in the moment of such intensity I don’t think any of us can even begin to relate to, Jesus’ concern is for His mother’s day. He knows what God has declared from the beginning, and that is that those who possess the love of God should care for widows. A widow’s plight could be quite harrowing in the day before welfare and social-safety nets. A widow would be alone and without means of support.

A motherless child is missing the love and concern and care so necessary for well-being, but also has support to offer.

So Jesus lovingly looks down from the cross of His suffering and declares this to be a day of adoption. Right in the midst of this very public judicial courtroom of Satan’s demise, Jesus says, “Woman, behold your son!” And then He says to John, “Behold your mother!” Jesus left no stone unturned in the final expression of His love for others. See how He loved them.

-  Pastor Bill