Yesterday was marked on the calendar as “Mother’s Day.” Mothers are significant! God chose to use a mother to bring the Messiah onto life’s scene. The birth of a child opens the door for many hopes and great promise. We should recognize that to be especially true with Jesus. However, the road to glory was filled with varied scenes of joy as well as sorrow.
When I think of mothers I see a strength of love that runs deep. When everyone else abandons (sometimes sadly even the fathers), a mother remains. A mother will be there even through the tough moments. A sight that might otherwise repulse a mother will draw her every attention when it is her own child. Even in a situation when she has to acknowledge her child has done wrong, it is still her child.
When a child experiences something, it is experienced by that child’s mother as well. This is true whether that be joy or pain. When I wrestled in high school, my mother did not care to go to too many of the matches because she felt worn out following my time on the mat. She would twist and turn with the movements I made on the mat perhaps in an attempt to help me. Was the experience of such feelings any different for Mary when Jesus was on the cross?
John recorded. . .
“(25) but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ (27)Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:25-27 ESV)
What a horrible sight it must have been for Mary. Jesus had been kept up and tortured through the night. He was being publicly ridiculed. He was enduring a most tortuous death. She probably felt his stinging wounds from the crown of thorns on His head upon her own brow. She probably felt within herself the difficulty that came with each breath she watched Jesus take as He would push Himself up on the nails through His feet. Her muscles probably tightened with each attempt of Jesus to move. Having looked into those eyes as an infant, she could probably read the hurt and the pain in His eyes as He hung there on the cross.
When Jesus, as an infant, was presented at the Temple, remember what Simeon had prophesied.
“(34) And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (35) (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’” (Luke 2:34-35 ESV)
Oh how her soul must have been pierced as Mary stood before the cross. But she was there. Where else would she be? Though Jesus was the Son of God, He was her son too. So, there she stood next to the beloved Apostle John, at the foot of the cross, looking up at her dying son.
And what do our eyes see? Note some more words from Simeon when Jesus was presented at the Temple.
“(29) ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; (30) for my eyes have seen your salvation (31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’” (Luke 2:29-32 ESV)
Through the darkness and gloom of ungodly actions in this world, may our eyes also see our salvation in Jesus. We may not fully understand all the scenes of life, but we have the assurance of brighter things because of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God Most High.
There is perhaps one more thought worth considering. While Jesus was in the midst of providing the solution to the world’s greatest need (salvation from sin), He took a moment to consider His mother. Jesus’ concern reveals the value of honoring and caring for one’s mother. And so it was that John, the beloved disciple, took Mary, the mother of Jesus, into his own home.
Jesus and Mary. In the bond of that mother/son relationship was a common concern and love for each other. Family is an institution of God, not man. May we do our part in keeping it holy and honorable before Him.
Have a great day KNOWING THE POWER OF EMPATHY IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS!
Carl
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