Words Of Affection
John 19:17-27
The third word from the cross presents us with one of the tenderest scenes to be observed on the day Christ was crucified. Here are words of affection.
Mary is at the cross where Jesus is being crucified. This was without question her most difficult moment as the mother of Jesus. There at the cross she watches her son dying an agonizing and shameful . She has decided to watch him until the end. Others have left, not willing to watch the horror of it all. But Mary and a few others (spiritual must not ignore the responsibilities ople nature. remain steadfast in their vigil.
Now the spoil of soldiers was a dying man’s garments. His outer garment was simply torn into four pieces. John 19:24 tells us that the soldiers did not want to divide his coat (tunic - inner garment) into four pieces because it would have destroyed its value. As a result, they rolled the dice to see who would end up with it. Imagine with me what this scene must have looked like to Jesus. As He looked down past his y feet He observed common soldiers playing their part in the world’s most uncommon drama. As far as they’re concerned, its just another day, and He’s just another criminal.
It is no coincidence that the soldiers divided up His belongings and gambled for his clothes. This was a predictive prophecy from Psalm 22:18 and is quoted in John 19:24, “They parted my raiment among them and for my vestue they did cast lots.”
According to tradition, His mother gave this undergarment to Jesus. This was something that mothers normally gave their sons when they left home. If this is true, then there seems to be a connection between what the soldiers were doing and the third shout from the Savior. Right after we are told that they cast lots, the Lord speaks to his mother.
Why now? She’s been there all along, watching and weeping. His outer garments were insignificant. But when they touched the tunic, they touched something very near to His heart—the garment made for Him by His mother.
I. Here we observe a sacred pattern
Here is an example for children to follow in honoring their parents. The Lord Jesus evidenced His perfection in the manner in which he fully discharged the obligations of every relationship that he sustained, either to God or man. On the cross we behold his tender care and concern for his mother. We have the pattern of Jesus Christ presented to all children for their imitation.
The words which the finger of God engraved on the two tables of stone, and which were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, have never been repealed. The words of Exodus 20:12 are reiterated in Ephesians 6:1-3: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it maybe well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth."
The commandment for children to honor their parents goes far beyond just obedience to their expressed will though, of course, it includes that. It embraces love and affection, gratitude and respect.
It is too often assumed that this fifth commandment is addressed to young children only. Nothing can be further from the truth. Without a doubt it is addressed to children, but to conclude that this commandment loses its force when childhood is left behind is to miss its meaning completely. "Honour" looks beyond obedience.
In the course of time children grow to s. The reach a point where they are no longer beneath the control of their parents, yet their obligations to their parents has not ceased. They owe their parents a debt which they can never fully discharge. The very least they can do is to hold their parents in high esteem and reverence them. In the perfect example we find both obedience and esteem manifested.
In the last hours of his human life, amid the sufferings of the cross, the Lord Jesus thought of his mother who loved him and whom he loved; he thought of her present necessity and provided for her future need by committing her to the care of John
Our Lord’s act on the cross in commending Mary to the care of his beloved apostle is better understood in the light of his mother’s widowhood. Though the gospels do not specifically record Joseph’s , there is little doubt but that Joseph died some time before the Lord Jesus began his public ministry. Nothing is seen of Mary’s husband after the incident recorded in Luke 2 when Christ was a boy of twelve. In John 2 Mary is seen at the Cana marriage, but no hint is given that Joseph was present. In light of the fact that the time had now arrived when he might no longer be a comfort to her by his bodily presence, his loving care is manifested toward her in his provision for her.
How are you treating your parents? Are you truly "honouring" them? Does Christ’s example of Christ on the cross put you to shame? "Despise not thy mother when she is old" (Pro. 23:22).
Luke 6:40, "The disciple is not above His master: but every one that is perfect (mature) shall be as His master."
By the way do you know the best way to deal with pain and sorrow? Minister to others!
II. Here we observe a simple principle
This principle relates to our responsibilities. Occupied with the most monumental work ever done, not only on earth but in the entire universe; under a burden which no mere creature could possibly have sustained; soon to drain the awful cup which meant separation from God Himself for three hours; nevertheless, even at such a time, the Lord Jesus did not deem natural ties as unworthy of recognition. To the very end He showed Himself both perfect Son of God and perfect Son of man. In boyhood He had "honored" His parents (Luke 2:52), so does He now on the cross.
The Lord Jesus was dying as the Saviour for sinners. He was engaged in the most valuable and the largest undertaking that this earth ever has or ever will witness. He was at the point of offering satisfaction to the outraged justice of God. He was just about to do that for the eternal Word, had become incarnate. However, he does not overlook the responsibilities of child to their parent; He fails not to make provision for her who, according to the flesh, was his mother. DUTIES NEVER CONFLICT.
There is a lesson here which many need to take to heart in these days. No duty, no work, however important it may be, can excuse one from discharging the obligations we have toward our parents, from caring for those who have fleshly claims upon us.
Those men who ever they are, though they stand at the forefront of Christian service, who are so busy preaching and teaching that they have no time to discharge the obligations that they owe to their own wives and children, need to study and practice the principle exemplified here by Christ on the cross.
Now, we can do one of three things with respect to our responsibilities!
1. We may shirk our responsibilities!
Hope somebody does for us.
2. We may shelve our responsibilities!
Do them another time.
3. We should shoulder our responsibilities!
We should assume our responsibilities.
4. We can share our responsibilities.
The Lord Jesus took His responsibilities seriously and fulfilled them every one. I believe that is what He calls us His children to do, nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.
III. Here we observe the solemn privilege
“Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
Jesus is breaking this mother-son relationship. In the omniscience of God (God knowing all things), He knew what our Roman Catholic friends would do in their exaltation of Mary in future times. In the scriptures, does Jesus ever call Mary, “Mother?" It is always "woman." Our Roman Catholic friends have no leg to stand on when they put Mary on a plain with Jesus as one that we are to worship. The Bible says in I Timothy 2:5, "There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Though Mary had a very prominent position and was greatly blessed of God since God selected her to bear the Christ child and to bring Him into being, nevertheless, she is not to be in competition with Jesus Christ for worship. She had no special place in Heaven whatsoever. Mary was a sinner just like you and me. In Luke 1, Mary cried out that she rejoiced in God, her Savior, as she exalted the one that was in her womb. She called Him God, and said He was her Savior. Now He is dying for her and that relationship is being broken, that mother-son relationship. Now she is just like all others. She is a believer; we are all on the same plain. Some may have higher positions in this life, but we are all on the same plain before God. We are sinners saved by the grace of God.
Jesus died for you and me, and He died for Mary as well. However, Jesus saw her needs. He knew that one of those needs was that someone needed to take care of Mary in her old age. So He looked to John, the beloved disciple, and He said to Mary, "Woman, behold thy Son, I am not your Son anymore." Do not you know that broke Jesus’ heart? He loved His mother dearly just as He loves us all. He was going to see that her needs were met, "Woman, behold thy son."
He then turned to the John and said, "Behold, thy mother." He was saying, "John, the responsibilities I have had while I was here on earth, the things I have done, now it is your responsibility. I want you to take care of my mother. I want you to do the things that I did. In an earthly way, the things that need to be taken care of, I want you to take care of them." Jesus was saying these words to John. “Substitute for the substitute, John." You see, Jesus was our substitute, was He not? When He hung on Calvary’s cross, we deserved that. We deserved to die; we deserved to go to Hell. We have rebelled against God; we have gone our way and not God’s way. We are sinners! We have grieved a holy and righteous God and that holiness of God cannot allow sin in His presence in eternity. So Jesus came, lived sinlessly, went to the Old Rugged Cross, died as my substitute and as your substitute. He took my place, and now, He is saying to John, "John, it is your responsibility, to now substitute for the substitute."
Each one of us is John. We have been saved. We are a disciple; we are a follower. We must do what He would do were He here in the flesh. We must go to the places He would go.
Someone penned this little poem:
“Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today; He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way; He has no tongues but our tongues to tell men how He died He has no help; but our help to bring them to His side.”
And so His story must be told by us. We are His "Johns," and we need to represent Him. We are the beloved.
For us to ignore this privilege and responsibility we have as believers is to despise the cross. Because of His love displayed at the cross, it is our privilege and assignment to substitute for The SUBSTITUTE!!!
See 2 Corinthians 5:21
Oh that we will be faithful substitutes for the SUBSTITUTE!!!
Conclusion
What duty is placed upon us as believers!
