June 30th, 2018

Our New Family

“When Jesus saw His mother standing there, and the 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.”  John 19:26-27

The gospel of John 19:26-27 gives us the third saying of Jesus.  He speaks words of affection and hope to a woman and a man – Mary, his mother, and John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.  He addressed the woman who had remained, and the man who had returned, after abandoning Jesus.  Jesus spoke these words to them: “Woman, here is your son” and to John He spoke, “Here is your mother.”

As Jesus was departing, He was arranging the relationship of those who would remain.  His words of love and affection showed His concern for them, and yes, for us.  Christ took care of our spiritual family as He suffered on that cross.  He was establishing the church – the body of Christ, before He died.  He pointed the woman and the man to each other, so they would be united and connected through Christ, to one another.  It was the church, us here today, drawn by the power of God to care for one another, honor one another, prefer one another. As Jesus was demonstrating love by laying down His life for His friends – for us – He honored and preferred us.

 Our spiritual family was placed in God’s divine order.  It was a beautiful portrait of devotion from the sinless Son of God.  The provisions of the will and testament were being secured before Jesus breathed His last breath.  He was setting the church in order.  He was instructing the mother and the apostle – the unrelated – that they would be connected.  This was done for us, so that we might, as strangers, be united and connected in Christ – that we might care for each other in a healthy, obedient way – bearing one another’s burdens while each of us carries our own load. He wanted us to know that we are never alone because of Him.  We are part of God’s family and we are related, we are forever connected, because of Jesus.