December 24, 2016: SOAP #2578:  John 19-21

Scripture:  John (NIV) 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,”

Observation:  She had received the angel’s message that she would give birth to the Messiah.  She had endured the question of her intended husband, Joseph.  She had accompanied Joseph on a journey to Bethlehem were they found no place to spend the night except with the animals in a stable.  And there in a manger she had laid her first born, Jesus!  The shepherds came with news of an angelic visit.  Later the magi from the east brought gifts.  Then she had to care for the baby on a trip to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous intentions.  … Now she stands at the foot of His cross.  And Jesus, enduring intense suffering, sees her.  He puts aside His pain to make sure she has a place to go and someone to watch out for her.

Application:   What Jesus was doing at that moment was so much bigger than Mary.  He was dying as payment for the sins of everyone who would accept Him as Savior and Lord.   Yet His assignment was not so big that He could not take time for His earthly mother.    Today care homes are full of elderly people whose children act as though their jobs are so important that they do not have time to visit their parents.  Their jobs are not nearly as important as was Jesus that day on the cross, yet He took time for His mother.   To ignore elderly parents is not very Christ-like.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, keep reminding me of your priorities, especially when I get to busy to remember them myself.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!