Wednesday, March 29, 2017
John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
STANDING BY THE CROSS...
Here we see the dying Savior providing a family, even for this life. He is not content with preparing an eternal place for us after our death. He also promises His presence in this time of our life.
And the family that our dying Savior provides is a close one. It is closer than blood ties because it is His Word that unites his mother and John as He says, "Woman behold your son. Behold your mother."
People who are only related by blood can go in opposite directions, can have completely opposite views of life and morality, of God and man. But Christ's Word binds together, gives people a common outlook on life, a common goal for their life, a unity in the things that really make up a life.
At the same time the Spirit of Christ gives many different gifts to many different people, and allows for a wide difference in meat and drink, clothing, and material things -- things of which a man"s life and the kingdom of God do not consist.
The family that our dying Savior creates with His Word is a caring family. Mary now faced that time of which Simeon had spoken so many years before in the temple: and a sword was piercing her innermost being and life. In that time of need, John took her into his own home. So the Lord, through His Word continues to gather people together and through each other they are helped in their times of need, and trouble, and joined in times of joy.
