Cries From The Cross - A Word Of Affection Series

Reading: John chapter 19 verses 23-27.

In this series of studies:

• We are considering the seven statements of Jesus from the cross:

• These statements are very important to us:

• Not only because of the Person who spoke them;

• But, also because of the place where they were said.

• Remember the context that these great words were spoken in;

• It was when our Jesus was doing His greatest work on earth,

Quote:

“These seven last words from the cross are windows that enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God.”

• This morning we are looking at the third statement that Jesus made on the cross;

• “Dear woman, here is your son (and to the disciple)….here is your mother.”

Quote: British Lexicographer (one who makes dictionaries) Samuel Johnson

“Depend upon it, Sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.".

If ever there was a moment when we would expect a man to concentrate, focus his mind, think only of himself,

• It surely is at the hour of his death.

• Especially if the throes of death are especially painful,

• You would expect the sufferer to focus exclusively on his own immediate needs.

• To be self-absorbed.

Yet, Jesus:

• Who was in excruciating pain while hanging on the cross,

• Thought not of himself but of others!

Quote: William Barclay writes:

"There is something infinitely moving in the fact that Jesus in the agony of the cross, in the moment when the salvation of the world hung in the balance, thought of the loneliness of his mother in the days when he was taken away."

Quote: Some on else had similar thoughts and wrote:

“If it is true that God created in order that He might redeem,

Jesus was now doing the work for which the world was made.

Here on the centre cross the purpose of the ages would be consummated.

This was the hub into which the spokes of God's purposes would come together in a beautiful display of divine attributes.

Both God's love and justice were put on display for all to see.

Yet at this moment, Jesus did not overlook His earthly family obligations”.

• We will see in a few minutes how he met the needs of his family obligations;

• But first I want to divide these verses under four headings.

(1). Important act (vs 25-26):

“ 25Jesus' mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. [c] 26When Jesus saw his mother and his favourite disciple with her, he said to his mother, "This man is now your son."”.

Church tradition (not the Bible):

• Tells us that Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, had long since died.

• The last time he is mentioned in the gospels, is when Jesus was twelve years old.

• The time Jesus remained in the temple at Jerusalem (Luke chapter 2 verse 46);

• And his parents had lost track of him.

• When they find him they discover he is;

• “Discussing doctrinal matters with the teacher of the law”.

• And with this story, Joseph passes from the pages of the New Testament.

• So it is logical to assume he died when Jesus was a teenager.

That would mean of course that:

• As the eldest son in a single parent home,

• Jesus, the first-born is responsible to provide for his mother.

• This practice still takes place in many countries today.

• Ill: Solomon Nathaniel will testify to that!

Question:

• What about the rest of the family members?

• Why did Jesus not commit His mother to His half brothers & sisters?

• That is the children Mary bore to Joseph after the miraculous virgin birth?

• They are named in for us Matthew chapter 13 verses 55.

55“Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offence at him.

But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honour.”

Answer: is two fold:

• (a). Geographically; his brothers and sisters were not in Jerusalem;

• They lived & worked in the area of Galilee.

• As there is no mention of them;

• It is logical to assume that they remained up north, in Galilee.

• (B). Unbelief.

• We know that they did not believe at this time that Jesus was the Messiah.

• Even late in His ministry we read,

• "For even his own brothers did not believe in him" (John chapter 7 verse 5).