The Power of the Cross Reveals
the Glory of God’s Love in Christ
Jesus’ Love for Family
When Jesus saw his mother there, and disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27
The conversation seems so ordinary, we almost overlook it. Locked in a vicious, cosmic battle, Jesus looks down from the cross at his mom and says, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he says to John, “Here is your mother!” Jesus wants to make sure someone will care for Mary after he is gone.
Just before this conversation, the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross had cast lots for his tunic. It was woven in one piece and likely the Lord’s most valuable material possession. The soldiers saw its value and decided against tearing it into pieces to share among themselves. (See John 19: 23-24.)
In Jewish culture, mothers often gave their sons such a tunic when they left home. Could Mary herself have woven this tunic for Jesus? As he hung there, dying, did he and Mary both think back to that moment just three years earlier when she had presented it to him? Now here it was, being raffled off!
And here, too, in the midst of pain, blood, and torture, we see Jesus’ tender love for Mary. We see his concern that she be cared for in her later years. Here, too, we see the glory of God in our Savior’s emphasis on family.
It would have been easy for Jesus to bypass Mary’s needs as he engaged in cosmic battle over sin and death. It’s easy for us, too, to lose this emphasis in our everyday lives. We get so busy, so entangled in our daily tasks. We can at times focus so tightly on doing “holy work for the Lord,” that we ignore the needs of those closest to us.
The glory of Christ’s love is revealed in our lives when, in the midst of great struggles and pain, we reflect our Lord’s concern for the family God has given us. Who in you family is in need of your concern and care this day?
The conversation seems so ordinary, we almost overlook it. Locked in a vicious, cosmic battle, Jesus looks down from the cross at his mom and says, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he says to John, “Here is your mother!” Jesus wants to make sure someone will care for Mary after he is gone.
Just before this conversation, the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross had cast lots for his tunic. It was woven in one piece and likely the Lord’s most valuable material possession. The soldiers saw its value and decided against tearing it into pieces to share among themselves. (See John 19: 23-24.)
In Jewish culture, mothers often gave their sons such a tunic when they left home. Could Mary herself have woven this tunic for Jesus? As he hung there, dying, did he and Mary both think back to that moment just three years earlier when she had presented it to him? Now here it was, being raffled off!
And here, too, in the midst of pain, blood, and torture, we see Jesus’ tender love for Mary. We see his concern that she be cared for in her later years. Here, too, we see the glory of God in our Savior’s emphasis on family.
It would have been easy for Jesus to bypass Mary’s needs as he engaged in cosmic battle over sin and death. It’s easy for us, too, to lose this emphasis in our everyday lives. We get so busy, so entangled in our daily tasks. We can at times focus so tightly on doing “holy work for the Lord,” that we ignore the needs of those closest to us.
The glory of Christ’s love is revealed in our lives when, in the midst of great struggles and pain, we reflect our Lord’s concern for the family God has given us. Who in you family is in need of your concern and care this day?
Prayer Starter
Jesus, in the midst of great pain,
you showed such compassion
and care for your mother. In the
power of your cross, forgive my
forgetfulness and neglect of my
family. Right now, I ask you
on their behalf …
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