Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this blessed gathering. We have come together under the shelter of God’s love, united by the shared purpose of understanding His word and His will. We are not simply a congregation of believers, but a family, bound by the unbreakable thread of faith and love in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the words of Charles Spurgeon, "To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battlefield." Indeed, we are warriors, not of the world, but of the spirit, armed with the power of faith, the shield of love and the sword of truth.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the Book of John, specifically to Chapter 19, verses 25-27:

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

In these verses, we find the manifestation of Jesus' love, the magnanimity in His sacrifice, and the ministration of care from the cross.

Before we proceed, let us bow our heads and hearts in prayer.

Dear Lord, we thank You for this day, for the gift of life and the privilege to gather in Your name. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to Your word. May we not just hear, but understand and live according to Your teachings. Guide us, Lord, as we seek to know You more through Your word. Bless this gathering, Lord, and may Your presence be felt in our midst. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Manifestation of Jesus' Love

In the verses we read, we find Jesus on the cross. He is in the midst of unimaginable pain and suffering. Yet, in this moment of extreme agony, He looks down and sees His mother. He sees the disciple He loves. And what does He do? He speaks to them. He cares for them. He provides for them. This is love in its purest form.

This love is not a fleeting emotion or a momentary feeling. It is a deliberate act of will. It is a choice to put the needs of others before our own, even when it costs us everything. This is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. It is a love that is selfless, sacrificial, and steadfast.

We see this selfless love in the way Jesus addresses His mother. He does not call her by her name, but refers to her as 'woman'. This is not a term of disrespect, but a term of endearment. It is the same term He used when He performed His first miracle at the wedding in Cana. By using this term, Jesus is showing His deep love and respect for His mother. He is acknowledging her not just as His mother, but as a woman of faith and strength.

This sacrificial love is evident in the way Jesus provides for His mother. He knows that His time on earth is coming to an end. He knows that His mother will be left alone. So, He entrusts her to the care of the disciple He loves. He ensures that she will be taken care of, even after He is gone. This is a profound act of love. It is a love that is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of others.

The steadfast love of Jesus is seen in His commitment to fulfill His responsibilities, even in the face of death. He could have focused on His own suffering. He could have succumbed to the pain and the agony. But He didn't. He remained steadfast in His love. He fulfilled His duty as a son. He ensured that His mother was taken care of. He demonstrated a love that is unwavering, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Finally, we see the personal nature of Jesus' love in the way He addresses the disciple. He does not refer to him by his name, but calls him 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'. This is a personal and intimate term. It shows the deep and personal relationship that Jesus had with His disciples. It shows that His love for them was not just a general love, but a personal and individual love.

In all these ways, we see the manifestation of Jesus' love on the cross. It is a love that is selfless, sacrificial, steadfast, and personal. It is a love that reaches out to us in our pain and suffering. It is a love that provides for us in our need. It is a love that remains steadfast in the face of trials and tribulations. It is a love that is personal and intimate. This is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. This is the love that He has for each one of us.

Magnanimity in Jesus' Sacrifice

As we continue to reflect on the words of John 19:25-27, we find ourselves drawn to the enormity of Jesus' sacrifice ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO