7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 3

This is PART 3 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.

7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 3

Christ’s 3RD Saying (John 19:26-27)
“…Woman, behold thy son!…Behold thy mother!”

John 19:26-27, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Jesus, in His dying moments, expressed His tender care for His mother. What a model for all children in providing for our parents’ needs who have done so much for us. “Behold thy mother”. Because your mother has always been your caregiver, when the tables are turned in her life, taking care of her can be a very challenging experience. Although you are a capable adult, in her eyes you are still her little one. We know the circumstances and challenges of Christ’s day were very different than ours. Yet He did not shirk the responsibility of taking care of His earthly mother. When the hour of His death arrived, it was clear that He had made special plans and accommodations. John, His beloved disciple, would take care of His mother, and Mary, whose heart was closest to the heart of Jesus, would live the remainder of her life with John.

The God Who said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12), came to this earth and “was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). With human flesh draped around Him, He obeyed the same commandment that He had given to men. And even when He was dying, He continued to obey that commandment, honoring His mother with His thoughtfulness and provisions. Even as He hung dying on a cross, Jesus fulfilled His obligation to care for His mother. Even during the agony of a horribly cruel death, and in the last moments of His life upon earth, Jesus was concerned about the welfare of his mother. He made arrangements for her care. Caring for and assisting helpless and needy family members is a responsibility we have until death. The focus here is on the responsibility of children for their dependent parents.

Jesus was saying to John that He wanted him to be the substitute for the Substitute. As Jesus trusted John to take Mary to his own home and to lovingly provide for her in His absence, may He trust us to do His bidding. The fact that Jesus spoke to both His earthly mother and John from the cross indicates they were on His heart. He loved Mary so much that He guarded her future; He loved John so much that He gave Him a special ministry. He had us on His heart also and lovingly died for us. He still has us on His heart and lovingly speaks to us by His Spirit. Like John, may we hasten to do His will.

And He purposes the same for all of us who have been purchased by His Precious Blood. As the poet has said;
"Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today,
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way,
He has no tongue but our tongues
To tell men how He died,
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side."

Points to Ponder:
Jesus was touched with the feelings of His mother’s hurt and pain.
Jesus is touched with the feeling of our hurt and pain, so He takes care of us.

PRAYER: Father In Heaven, I thank You for my Mother. Thank You for giving me a mother that has sacrificed so much for me and who has always been there for me. My I be as strong and supporting for her as she was for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for reading PART 3 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 4.

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