Affection for this Life Tuesday, April 7,2020
There she stood. It was the saddest and hardest day that this mother had ever experienced. She was helpless. There was a time when she would have done anything and everything within her power to protect her child. This, however, was out of her hands. She recounted the way the angel Gabriel had awakened her to reveal God’s promise. In her unbelief, she began to believe how mighty God’s hand was. That was then, and this is now. She stood alone and weary, watching her son being crucified on a cross.
There he stood. Everything that he had devoted his life to was slipping away. He had a good career with his brother working for their father, but they had left that life behind to follow Him. He had found a true friend who had called him away to a new life. He believed the message that God was speaking to His heart. He knew that this friend was truly larger than life, so he determined that no sacrifice was too great for him to make on His behalf. But, there he stood alone and weary, watching his leader being crucified on a cross.
There He hangs. What was planned from the beginning was taking place. It was agonizing and it was lonely. The shame of the Cross being fully realized as people from all over Jerusalem see this teacher now being executed. It was what He knew was coming and it was why He had come. Even with the joy of eternity in front of Him, He knew the pain He was feeling was real. The hardest part was not the jeer of the soldiers nor was it the betrayal of those He came to save. It was the separation from His Father as He was being crucified on cross.
It is in this scene that Jesus speaks with compassion for His mother and for His disciple, John. Notice the affection for Mary. Jesus knew that His brothers did not believe in Him, so He gave her a caregiver in her later years who did. The community of faith is huge! He could have come off the cross for Mary, but that would have left our redemption incomplete. Instead, he looked with compassion on her and gave her His best friend. John, receives honor!
This is a highlight of Christian community. We have the affection of Christ Jesus poured out for all of us as we join together.
Pray: Thank You, Jesus for not leaving us alone. You have given us Your love in Your church and in our community. Help us to love the fellowship of faith!
“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” John 19.26-27, NASB
There he stood. Everything that he had devoted his life to was slipping away. He had a good career with his brother working for their father, but they had left that life behind to follow Him. He had found a true friend who had called him away to a new life. He believed the message that God was speaking to His heart. He knew that this friend was truly larger than life, so he determined that no sacrifice was too great for him to make on His behalf. But, there he stood alone and weary, watching his leader being crucified on a cross.
There He hangs. What was planned from the beginning was taking place. It was agonizing and it was lonely. The shame of the Cross being fully realized as people from all over Jerusalem see this teacher now being executed. It was what He knew was coming and it was why He had come. Even with the joy of eternity in front of Him, He knew the pain He was feeling was real. The hardest part was not the jeer of the soldiers nor was it the betrayal of those He came to save. It was the separation from His Father as He was being crucified on cross.
It is in this scene that Jesus speaks with compassion for His mother and for His disciple, John. Notice the affection for Mary. Jesus knew that His brothers did not believe in Him, so He gave her a caregiver in her later years who did. The community of faith is huge! He could have come off the cross for Mary, but that would have left our redemption incomplete. Instead, he looked with compassion on her and gave her His best friend. John, receives honor!
This is a highlight of Christian community. We have the affection of Christ Jesus poured out for all of us as we join together.
Pray: Thank You, Jesus for not leaving us alone. You have given us Your love in Your church and in our community. Help us to love the fellowship of faith!
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Hey! I want to hear from you. Let's bridge dialogue as followers of Christ and not followers of the world. I am eager to see how we can grow together!