Opening Prayer.

Father God,
Help us not to rely on ourselves or our own understanding as we study the Scriptures today. May we find your wisdom
while I speak the words you want me to speak.
Please give me wisdom beyond what I have studied or observed. Help us to listen to you today as we seek you and your
wisdom in Your Word.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

We will ponder upon the 3rd word from the Cross of Jesus: Jn.19:26-27

"Speaking to John and Mary, "He is your Son... She is your mother.”

What Are We to Learn from the Third Word?

What are we as Jesus' disciples to learn from this Word from the cross?

1. Love for our Family

First, we must love our parents -- no matter what. Sometimes our parents misunderstand us or disapprove of decisions
we make. Sometimes they can hurt us grievously. Jesus, too, had felt the hurt of misunderstanding from his family
-- even his mother. It's apparent that during part of his ministry, at least, his family didn't understand him.

1. At the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), Mary pushed Jesus to change the water into wine, even though he tells her, "My
time has not yet come."
2. His family thought, "He is out of his mind," and went to take charge of him (Mark 3:21, 31-35) -- his brothers apparently
along with Mary.
3. "Even his own brothers did not believe in him." (John 7:5)

But whether they understand or even approve of us -- whether we can even trust them at this point in our lives -- we are
told: "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). Christ-powered love can help heal the hurts from our
families. We must love our parents.

2. John 19:26-27 - Behold Your Mother! The Legacy of Jesus' Love for Mom

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a perfect child? Can you imagine a child who never threw selfish
tantrums or scowled at the meal you set before him? Can you conceive of a kid who never left his room trashed after he
was told to pick it up or who never spent his allowance irresponsibly and then whined for more money?

Here's a reality check: If you did have a perfect child, life as a mother in this world would still be hard.

Mary had a perfect Son, but her life as a mother was filled with the sadness of life in the flesh. Like every mother, she
still needed a Savior to rescue her from the demands, guilt, and worries of motherhood. In her case, her Savior was her
Son.
I cannot think of a scene in Scripture that speaks more affectionately to a mother's heart than when Jesus uttered those
few words from his parched lips, "Woman, behold your son!" (John 19:25-27). Whether you are a mother or not, this
text unveils to us the love, lessons, and legacy of Jesus' last interaction with his mother before his death.

The Love of a Son

Our dear Lord Jesus approached the moment of his death. After hanging on the cross for several hours, his strength was
drained, his senses were numbed, and his sight was blurred. Not only was Jesus enduring great physical torment but he
was also suffering from a sense of spiritual desertion as he drank the cup of God's wrath to the bottom. Yet he kept a
compassionate eye upon the crowd that called for his death and, with calloused indifference, lingered to witness it. His
pitying eye fell on his mother.

With a quick glance toward his disciple John, Jesus spoke to his mother: "Woman, behold your son!" To John he said:
"Behold your mother!" (John 19:26-27). From that hour John took her to his home. Jesus was giving a new son to his
mother to replace himself.

And he gave her the best son she could expect, the disciple Jesus loved. John, the only one of the disciples there now,
indicates his loyalty, courage, and faith by his presence.

Jesus' love toward his mother proves his love for us, his believing brothers and sisters. When you and I are in trouble,
our thoughts tend to turn inward. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. He directs his thoughts toward those whom
he loves. He is mindful of our needs just as he was mindful of his mother's needs.

Still, he takes his time in meeting our needs. He could have made this arrangement between Mary and John at a more
convenient time. But he waited until she needed to hear it most.

3. Responsibility for our Family

We are responsible for family obligations. Jesus was clear that his disciples must put commitment to him above family
relationships -- sometimes even using hyperbole to drive this point home. Our obedience to Christ must become primary
and obedience to parents must become secondary.

Having said that, just because we are Christians doesn't mean that we are absorbed of family obligations. The Apostle
Paul is adamant:

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is
worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8)
When we are immature believers, sometimes we take rash actions towards our families that in retrospect weren't filled
with Christ's love. Our priorities, however, are clear: (1) God himself, (2) our families, (3) our work for God.

How do we reconcile our primary commitment to Jesus with responsibility for our families? Sometimes with great
difficulty. But to put Christ first doesn't mean that we are free to neglect our other priorities -- it means only that we get
our priorities in proper relation to each other. God will give us wisdom to work this out.

Here at the end of his life, we see in Jesus the tender love of a son for his mother -- a mother who had sometimes
misunderstood him. As he dies he settles his earthly obligations as best he can, we hear him say, "Dear woman, here is
your son ... Here is your mother" (John 19:26-27).
Three Lessons from the Cross

From the cross Christ grandly demonstrates three lessons.

The Church Is God's Family

Mary had other children who could have met her physical needs after Jesus' death. But Mary needed the kind of
spiritual companionship found only in the family of God. Earlier, Jesus had said that his mother and brother and sister
are those who do the will of God (Mark 3:35). In the church believers treat older men as fathers, younger men as
brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity ( 1 Tim. 5:1-2). We have no eternal ties to
anyone who isn't united to Christ by a living faith. God's children are our family. When it comes to caring for those we
love, we must learn to involve the covenant community

Children Must Care for Their Mothers

Being born under the law (Gal. 4:4), Jesus was obligated to honor his parents. How perfectly he fulfilled that law,
providing for his mother even on his deathbed.

Jesus criticized the Pharisees for not honoring their fathers and mothers (Mark 7:8-13). Here is another example of Jesus
practicing what he preached. The same John to whom Jesus speaks here later wrote: "He who says he abides in Him
ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6). Do we follow Jesus in looking after the interests of our
mothers? Or do we see them as our servants to make our meals, clean our rooms, and drive us everywhere we want?
Mothers may do these things in service to Christ, but their children must not treat them as servants. Jesus honored his
mom. He came to serve her, not to be served by her.

Mothers Must Love Their Children

In the shadow of the cross, Mary could do nothing for her Son. Still, in his darkest moment, Mary shows the
commitment of a caring mother. She was there for him. She grieved with him. She cried with him. If she could have
embraced him, she would have. Mothers miss the point if they see themselves strictly as disciplinarians and rule
enforcers. Mothers are called to share their hearts with their kids. The swords that pierce your kids' hearts must pierce
yours as well.

Closing Prayer

Father, we see Jesus' example of love and responsibility. As wonderful and loving as family relationships can be, they are
often complex and sometimes hurtful. We ask you to help us sort them out. Show us how to love you at the same time
we love our family members. Give us the divine wisdom that we need so that we can love as Jesus loves. In His name, we
pray. Amen.