A PORTRAYAL OF AFFECTION
Notes
Transcript
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
JESUS PORTRAYS PARENTAL HONORING.
JESUS PORTRAYS PARENTAL HONORING.
On the cross we behold his tender care for his mother, and in this we have the pattern of Jesus Christ presented to all children for their imitation.
The words which the finger of God engraved on the two tables of stone, and which were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, have never been repealed. They are in force while the earth lasts. The words of Exodus 20:12 are reiterated in
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
The commandment for children to honor their parents goes far beyond a bare obedience to this expressed will. It embraces love and affection, gratitude and respect. It is too often assumed that this fifth commandment is addressed to young folks only. Nothing can be further from the truth.
It is often asked as to the extent of ones honoring obligation. Jesus is our perfect example in that he honors his mother even in manhood thus demonstrating its continuance throughout life.
During his early years the boy Jesus was under the control of Mary his mother and Joseph his legal father. This is beautifully displayed in
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
The King of Kings doesn’t merely instruct parental obedience, he illustrates it from beginning to end.
On the cross Christ reminds us that parental honor never ends though the years of obedience had ended. In the last hours of his human life, amid the suffering, the Lord Jesus thought of his beloved mother future need by committing her to the care of that disciple who most deeply understood his love.
Permit just a brief word of exhortation. These lines may be read by numbers of grown-up people who still have living fathers and mothers. How are you treating them? Are you truly “honoring” them? Does this example of Christ on the cross put you to shame? It may be you are young and vigorous, and your parents gray-headed and infirm; can you hear the Holy Spirit saying,
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
It may be that you are rich, and they are poor; then fail not to make provision for them. It may be they live in a distant state or land, then neglect not to write them words of appreciation and cheer which shall brighten their closing days. These are sacred duties. “Honor thy father, and thy mother.”
JOHN IS A PORTRAIT OF PRESERVING GRACE.
JOHN IS A PORTRAIT OF PRESERVING GRACE.
Christ suffering at the hand of God was expected but perhaps the bitterest residue of all in the cup which he drank was the forsaking of him by the apostles. It was bad enough and sad enough that his own people, the Jews, should despise and reject him; but it was far worse that the Eleven, who had accompanied so long with him, should desert their Lord in the hour of crisis. One would have thought that their faith and their love was equal to any shock. But it was not.
But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
reads the sacred narrative. Unspeakably tragic was this. Their failure to “watch” with him for one hour in the Garden paralyses our minds, but their turning away from him at the time of his arrest almost baffles comprehension. I say almost; as we have not learned from bitter experience the deceitfulness of our hearts, how feeble our faith is, how miserably weak we are in the hour of trial and testing! But for the grace of God the exact whatnot is sufficient to overturn us. Let the restraining and upholding power of God be withdrawn from us, and then let us see how long would we stand?
The Lord Jesus had solemnly warned these disciples of their approaching cowardice:
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
And not Peter only but all of the apostles affirmed their determination to stand by him:
Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Nevertheless, his word proved true, and they all deserted him. And how this reflected upon his glory! By their sinful flight they exposed the Lord Jesus to the contempt and scoffs of his enemies. It was because of this we read,
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
It is not difficult to fill in the blanks. Doubtless Caiaphas inquired how many disciples he had, and what was become of them now? And what was the reason they had forsaken their Master, and left him to fend for himself when danger appeared? But observe that to this question, the Savior made no reply. He would not accuse them to the common enemy though they had deserted him!
They forsook him:
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
They deemed it no longer safe to remain with him. As he gave himself up, they sought to take refuge from the present storm which had overtaken him.
Their forsaking of Christ was due to the suspension of God’s preserving and upholding grace. They were not accustomed to forsake him. They had never done so before or afterwards. They would not have done so now had there been influences of power, zeal and love from heaven upon them. Had they stayed he wouldn’t have fulfilled Scripture in that he was to tread out the winepress, bare our sin and sorrow alone. Christ was to have the least relief or comfort from any creature, so that he might be left alone to grapple with the wrath of God and man. It was the Lord who withheld his strengthening influences from them; and they were as weak as other men. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” and if that be withheld our resolve and resolutions melt away before temptation like snow before the sun.
Make not that their cowardice and infidelity was only temporary. Listen to what Scripture records of these men after His resurrection,
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
One comforting note in this scene of abandonment is realizing that one of the eleven did seek him out before he rose in triumph from the tomb? He sought him while he yet hung on the cross of shame! Which of the little band of apostles should demonstrate the superiority of his love? Even if the sacred narrative had concealed his identity, it would not have been a difficult task to supply his name. The Scripture we are now considering shows us John at the foot of the cross, but the thoughtful reader would expect to find there “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” And there he was. John had returned to the Savior’s side, and there receives from him a blessed commission.
Let me give you a brief word of exhortation as we finish this third point. Is there one here today that has wandered away from the side of the Savior, who is no longer enjoying sweet communion with him; who is, in a word, a backslider? Perhaps in the hour of trial you denied him. Perhaps in the time of testing you failed. You have given more thought to your own interests than his. The honor of his name which you bear has been lost sight of. May the arrow of conviction now enter your conscience. May divine grace melt your heart! May the power of God draw you back to Christ, where alone your soul can find satisfaction and peace. Here is encouragement for you. Christ did not rebuke John on returning; instead, his wondrous grace bestowed on him an unspeakable privilege. Cease then your wanderings and return at once to Christ, and he will greet you with a word of welcome and cheer; and who knows what wondrous commission is awaiting you!
WE ARE NEVER PARDONED FROM OUR DUTY OF CARING FOR OUR FLESH AND BLOOD.
WE ARE NEVER PARDONED FROM OUR DUTY OF CARING FOR OUR FLESH AND BLOOD.
The Lord Jesus was dying as the Savior for sinners. He was engaged in the most momentous and the most stupendous undertaking that this earth ever has or ever will witness. He was on the point of offering satisfaction to the outraged justice of God. He was just about to do that work for which the world had been made, for which the human race had been created, for which all the ages had waited, and for which he, the eternal Word, had become incarnate. Nevertheless, he does not overlook the responsibilities of a son to his widowed mother; he assures provision for her who, according to the flesh, was his mother.
There is a lesson here which many need to take to heart today. No duty, no work; however important it may be, can excuse us from discharging the obligations of nature or from caring for those who have fleshly claims upon us. There is no calling of our Lord that tells us to forsake our wives or children. If there are those who speak such rhetoric they are not following the Savior. Those who sacrifice family on an altar of ministry are not following the Savior. Yes, Christ commands that we forsake all and follow Him. However, Jesus never tells us to forsake our wives or our children. Our greatest ministry work is to fulfill our obligation to those who have fleshly claim upon us. For those of us who are failing in obligation need to study and practice the principle exemplified here by Christ on the cross.
JESUS WORDS TO MARY CONFIRM A PLANETARY NEED.
JESUS WORDS TO MARY CONFIRM A PLANETARY NEED.
How different is the Mary of scripture from the Mary of superstition! She was no proud Madonna but, like each of us, a member of a fallen race, a sinner both by nature and practice. Before the birth of Christ she declared, “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
And now at the death of the Lord Jesus she is found before the cross. The word of God presents not the mother of Jesus as the queen of angels decked with diadem, but as one who herself rejoiced in a Savior. It is true she is “blessed among (not above’) women” and that by virtue of the high honor of being the mother of the Redeemer; yet was she human, a real member of our fallen race, a sinner needing a Savior.
She stood by the cross. And as she stood there, the Savior exclaimed, “Woman, behold your Son!”
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
There, summed up in a single word, is expressed the need of every descendant of Adam—to turn the eye away from the world, off from self, and to look by faith to the Savior that died for sinners. There is the divine epitome of the Way of Salvation. Deliverance from the wrath to come, forgiveness of sins, acceptance with God, is obtained not by deed of merit, not by good works, not by religious ordinances; no, salvation comes by beholding—“Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” Just as the serpent-bitten Israelites in the wilderness were healed by a look, by a look at that which Jehovah had appointed to be the object of their faith, so today, redemption from the guilt and power of sin, emancipation from the curse of the broken law and from the captivity of Satan, is to be found alone by faith in Christ,
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
There is life in a look. Have you beheld that divine Sufferer? Have your eyes been opened to him dying on the cross that he might bring you to God? Mary the mother of Christ needed to “behold” him, and so do you. Then look, look unto Christ and be saved.