Today’s Reading: John 19:25-27

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. – John 19:25

Luke tells us that there was a small group of women who often followed Jesus from town to town along with the disciples. Each had their own personal story of how Jesus had healed them of disease or freed them from the evil spirits that were controlling their lives. They were so thankful for what Jesus had done in their lives that they gave sacrificially in order to help support the ministry of Jesus. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of the manager of Herod’s household, and Susanna (Luke 8:1-3).

At the foot of the cross, we again see a small group of women who faithfully stayed by Jesus’ side, even in his death. While others were running in fear, these women were ministering to the needs of Jesus’ mother as she watched her son suffer. Again we see Mary Magdalene, along with Jesus’ aunt and Mary the wife of Clopas.

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:26-27

WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIS MOTHER FROM THE CROSS?

I cannot imagine the deep sorrow Mary was experiencing as she sat at the foot of the cross, but I do know the love of a mother for her child. Studies show that there is no grief as intense as the loss of a child; not even the loss of a spouse surpasses the sorrow of losing a son or daughter.

When the angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary to let her know she would conceive and give birth to a son, Mary had no idea the joy this baby boy would bring her. She did not know what it would be like to watch him grow and hunger for the study of scripture. I imagine she was a proud parent as she listened to him teach and watched him heal those who were brought to him. As a mother, I imagine she also worried when she saw how the religious leaders challenged him and tried to trap him with their questions.

THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

The angel had said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). Mary had found favor with God! What must that have felt like to be the one chosen to be the mother of God’s son. Perhaps the memory of that day played through her mind as she watched the son she loved dying on the cross.

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” – Luke 1:29-33

Confused and disturbed — these are adjectives that could probably be used to describe Mary as she watched Jesus’ crucifixion. The angel had said he would be very great, and he was! The angel said he would reign forever, so why was he dying? Did Mary understand that his death did not mean that his Kingdom was coming to end? Perhaps she remembered back to the words of Simeon on the day she and Joseph had presented their baby to the Lord, as the law required. The Holy Spirit was on Simeon that day as he held Jesus in his arms and celebrated the coming of the Messiah.

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” – Luke 2:34-35

BUT HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?

This question Mary asked the angel when he prophesied the birth of Jesus seems to fit well in today’s passage. Scripture does not tell us what Mary was saying as she grieved at the foot of the cross; we do not know what she was thinking or the questions she was asking. But Mary knew God to be faithful. The angel had told Mary that the word of God will never fail, and I imagine she was holding onto those words as she experienced the deepest grief she had ever known.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. – Luke 1:38

When Mary accepted God’s plan for her life, she accepted everything that would come with it. Her pregnancy before the engagement was over would be talked about; her character would be questioned. But Mary took each moment in Jesus’ life and pondered them in her heart, thinking about them often (Luke 2:19).

Jesus had brought great joy into her life, and the world had brought great sorrow. This same dichotomy is felt by us today. But when we receive Jesus as our Savior, we accept everything that God has planned for us, while acknowledging the reality that we are in the world but not of it. So as we soak in the remembrance of what Jesus did for us on that Friday long ago, let us take this time to recommit our hearts to the highs and lows of this spiritual journey.

The Lord is with us! The word of God will never fail, and his Kingdom will never end!