Words From The Cross Pt. 3 Series

Words From the Cross

Part 3

John 19:25-27

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Intro: So far we have heard Jesus Speak:

1. Words of Forgiveness- Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing

a. These words where spoken for and to the world

2. Words of Salvation- Today you will be with me in paradise

a. These words where spoken to the individual on the cross

3. Today’s words are spoken to those he loves, and they are Words of compassion.

John 19:25-27 (NIV) 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The first week, as we studied the words of forgiveness that Jesus spoke, we examined those words from the foot of the cross.

Last week as we looked at the words of Salvation, I asked you to look at them from the cross. ( I asked you to imagine yourself on the cross)

This week we can only look at this statement from a distance, and observe a Son, talking to a mother and a disciple.

There is no way we can put ourselves in the shoes of Jesus, Mary, or John who is probably the disciple referred to in the verse.

Therefore we can only look at these words and these statements from afar and see what we can learn about the Man who said them, and their purpose for us today.

There is no doubt that these are words of Compassion, and I believe there are 4 things we can learn about compassion from Jesus here on the cross.

I) His compassion is from the heart

A) "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

1) Again in Jesus’ time of great suffering HE THINKS of others before himself!

(a) It is his job to take care of His mother, and He makes sure that is taken care of.

2) We don’t know what happened to Joseph the father of Jesus.

(a) But one thing is certain at this point in time Joseph is indeed dead.

(i) Otherwise Mary would have gone home to Joseph, not this disciples house.

¨ Jesus was the oldest Son and therefore upon the death of His father he would have been His mother’s primary care taker.

¨ And it was up to Him to see that His mother was taken care of after His departure as well.

Þ I say His compassion is from the heart, because it would have taken so much to put the:

· Pain

· Suffering

· Laughter

· Mocking

· Hatred

· And thoughts of the awful sin that is about to come upon him aside to complete this task.

Þ We hear the thieves talk about no one but themselves

Þ We see the soldiers looking after no one but themselves

Þ We see the priest taking care of themselves

Þ We see most of Jesus’ disciples hiding and taking care of themselves

Þ We see the people chanting crucify him, crucify him, for their own pleasure, and for themselves

¨ And Jesus looks first to the World

¨ Then to the individual

¨ Now to his family, and one small minor detail that needed to be attended to.

B) Had Jesus not done this I think Mary would have been taken care of.

1) I am sure the disciples would have looked after Mary.

(a) If something was to happen to me, and I was unable to make arrangements for my family, I know you guys would take care of them.

(i) I know my parents and brothers would step up

(ii) I know my in-laws would step up

(iii) I know my 2 friends would step up (HAHAHA)

(iv) I know you would all help out in anyway you could.

¨ Not because I am the pastor, but because people take care of each other.

Þ I see it all the time, people step up and help out.

· The Disciples would have done this, but the heart of Jesus shines through, and He again looks outwardly instead of inward.

C) Jesus was not so Heavenly minded, that He was no earthly good.

1) At this point Jesus could have had His mind on nothing but heaven, but instead He did even more good on earth.