His Family Views His Death Series

4 Views from the Cross – His Family Views His Death

John 19:25-27 (p. 756) March 13, 2016

Introduction:

There’s an old hymn that says, “Jesus keep me near the cross. There a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain...in the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever. ‘Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.”

But I wonder, on the day Jesus died how near to that cross would we have really wanted to be?

Crucifixion was a slow and horrible way to die. The Romans reserved it for those whom they wanted to make examples of...“Mess with us...and this is where you’ll end up.”

There is a series of events that have happened before we arrive at our text the Sunday before Jesus has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey...crowds have celebrated His entrance by throwing down palm branches and shouting “Hosanna.” It’s a Jewish expression of adoration praise and joy (Literally “Save us we pray”).

It caused the conspiracy of the Pharisees to kill Him to go into high gear...John 12:19 records their reaction to the crowds...“Look how the whole world has gone after Him.” Later that week there would be an arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus’ disciples would scatter in fear for their lives...Jesus would be put on trial before the Sanhedrin...but because “Capital Punishment” could only be granted by the Roman government, He would be sent to Pilate...then Herod...then back to Pilate.

Finally Pilate would relent to the crowd that had been yelling “Hosanna” a few days ago but was now yelling “crucify him.” Washing his hands Pilate hands Jesus over...where He’s mocked, beaten and humiliated. He then carries his cross down the Via Dela Rosa (the way of sorrows) to Golgotha. He is then nailed to His cross...hoisted into place.

The Pharisees have followed...and near the cross they spur the crowd on by yelling “If you are the Christ come down from the cross and save yourself, then we will believe you. He saved others but cannot save Himself.”

But as Jesus hangs there He is not just surrounded by hatred...His family is there, His mother Mary, John the Apostle and 3 others.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25)

What we powerfully encounter here is

I. A FAMILY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS

By most accurate accounts when Jesus is dying He is surrounded by His mother, His aunt, and His first cousin John...and Mary Magdalene.

Jesus had cast out 7 demons from her soul...she could never forget what Jesus had done to change her life...she had been rescued by the Messiah.

There they stood...Near the cross, watching their son, their nephew, their best friend die...and they couldn’t change the situation...It’s hard to imagine a more heartbreaking scene...they look up...and He looks down.

Max Lucado asks this powerful question:

Have you ever wondered what Mary was thinking as she saw her little boy, her first born, hanging from the cross. People were yelling, screaming, insulting, spitting and throwing rocks. She must have wanted to comfort her boy — but she couldn’t, there was no comforting, there were screams of pain, agony, blood dripping down His naked, battered body. He was thirsty, but there was no satisfying His thirst. The same body she diapered, the same person she watched grow from a helpless infant. . . was being

crucified. Mary was broken hearted. She would remember what the prophet Simeon said, when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus into the temple to have Him dedicated, he predicted ‘a sword would pierce her own soul.’

The cross was that sword, and her soul was being pierced.

There is no mention of Joseph...most scholars believe Joseph died sometime after Jesus visited the temple when He was 12 and now...Jesus the firstborn would have been her provider and protector. She has buried her husband, leaving her a widow...now she would bury her 1st born son.

And then from the cross Jesus speaks...He’s said several things...He’s loved a dying thief into paradise...but the words He speaks to His mother and to John are the most intimate and personal.

“John, I give you the responsibility of looking after my mom like a son...Mom, John will protect and provide for you from now on.”

By the way do you think it’s a coincidence that John is the only disciple that isn’t martyred? He lives to be an old man...He’s exiled, but that’s long after Mary’s death.

Jesus hasn’t forgotten His earthly responsibilities, even while being crucified...but He is fulfilling an even more important responsibility...“His Father’s eternal business.”

Mary, John, and His family needed a Savior, even more than they needed a son, nephew, cousin and friend.