Good day dear friends.
We continue to affirm God's desire for us to honor and bless our parents based on Ephesians 6:1-4 as was the theme for Sunday, "Who Our Parents Were/Are." Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: In the Crucifixion of Jesus, while Jesus hangs on the cross, Jesus takes care of His mother with the exchange we find in John 19:25b-30. What do you suppose is going through Jesus’ mind as He knows about His pending death? What do you suppose was going through Mary as Jesus was presenting her to John the disciple?
Here is that passage: John 19: 25b Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clo'pas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
For many people the most frightening thing about death is the separation from loved ones. Most parents want to live long enough to make sure their children are all right, grown, living on their own. And most children, if they knew they were dying would want the same for their parents. This was the case for Jesus. While I mentioned on Sunday that at one point early in His ministry, Mary had been a bit too involved and even doubted His calling, at this point, Mary is very concerned about that which was happening to Jesus. The birth narratives mentioned Luke 2:35 the "piercing" of Mary's own soul by all that would happen to her son. And this was it. Jesus on the cross told "the disciple whom he loved" that Mary was now his mother and that this disciple was now her son. This was to assure that the two could care for each other.
We can only presume great sadness going through the hearts of both this beloved disciple and Mary. The sadness coming because of Jesus' imminent death, and touching that even at the point of death Jesus is thinking about others and not Himself.
The death of a parent is something one knows will happen one day, but one prefers not to think about it nor talk about it. But in a situation such as the one Jesus found Himself it was the only thing He could do. The care and well-being of His mother was very important to Him. We don't know what became of His brothers and sisters. They may have still been alive and interesting the belief that James, one of the twelve was Jesus' brother and begs the question why didn't Jesus present Mary to him? Obvious guesses is that of course Jesus knew what lay ahead for all, and Jesus trusted that the beloved disciple, whom we believe is John Mark, is the youngest, and would be around the longest and could better care for Mary.
To honor and bless our parents and those around us, is to put them first. To put them first is to care for their well-being and to make arrangements for them as they present themselves. This comes from a life lived with prayer and love; with a faith placed in God to direct and guide us escpecially in delicate matters such as our parents.
PRAYER: Come, loving Spirit to our hearts and minds. Let us know how to best care for the well-being of our loved ones, especially our parents. Help us to know that in all things, even the difficult things, You are with us and provide for us. Help us to provide for our loved ones, especially our parents. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
