Read
25Jesus' mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. 26When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.
Reflect
Jesus addresses both his mother Mary and the beloved disciple who is most likely John. John may have been a cousin of Jesus but the family pictured here is a new family, brought about through the death and resurrection of Christ. As a member of this new family, Jesus makes provision for the care of Mary. This is not a momentary thing to help Mary through her grief and time of loss with the death of her son. This is a lifetime commitment since from that time on, John took her to his home (27).
The cross unites us as brothers and sisters, not for a fleeting moment, but for all of life. This means we are to care for the needs of others in the faith community whether they be material, emotional or spiritual. Ask God what needs he wants you to meet in your spiritual family this week and commit yourself to those needs for as long as is appropriate.
In the midst of suffering and great pain Jesus is thinking, not only of his own needs but of the needs of others. My first and only concern is often for myself. I need to reorient my thinking so that my vision is for the whole family of God. I cannot meet all of the needs that I see but I can meet some of them and for these, I need to be proactive.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep and gives his life for them (John 10).We often find that relationships in the family of God are more intimate and meaningful even than relationships in our earthly family. On one occasion Jesus was teaching his followers and his mother and brothers approached him. Jesus turned to the circle of disciples and said that those did the will of God were his true family (Mark 3:31-35).This is still true today.
Respond
I come to you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and I lift up to you my church family with its many needs. Direct me to the areas where you want me to be involved so your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
Roy Matheson
Roy Matheson holds the Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary, and completed post doctoral studies at Wycliffe College and St Michael’s College, University of Toronto. Since 1970, he has taught at Tyndale University and Seminary, and presently is Professor Emeritus of New Testament. Since 1979, he has been Teaching Pastor at Chartwell Baptist Church in Oakville Ontario, and is presently Pastor Emeritus. Roy has taught in numerous settings within Canada as well as other countries: Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, France, Kazakhstan, India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Mongolia. He is married to Joy and they have three married children and seven grandchildren. Publications: Loving God’s Family: A Commentary on First John (Victor Books) along with a number of articles in Moody Monthly, Faith Today etc. Recently, Songs of the Servant: A Lenten Devotional on the Servant Songs of Isaiah (self published).