Worshiping the Father By Caring For Those Closest To You

The third statement from Jesus on the cross is directed to His mother and the beloved disciple, John. It is found in John 19:25 – 27. It is impossible to know the depth of suffering that Jesus endured on the cross. The physical suffering of intense pain was mild compared to the emotional, mental, and most of all, spiritual pain of the sins of the whole world being placed upon Him. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus not only took our sins upon Himself, He became sin in order that we might become righteous. We will forever probe the mystery and depth of God’s love and desire for us to know Him and be with Him forever. And in that moment of indescribable pain, with all of humanity on His heart, Jesus made sure that His mother would be cared for.

The Bible only mentions five of Jesus’ followers at the cross, His mother, her sister, the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and John. His other followers had abandoned Him and were hiding in fear. But His mother and the others mentioned above were there when they crucified the Lord.

John was fearless. He followed Jesus right into the house of the high priest for the late-night trial following the betrayal and arrest (John 18:15 – 24). John was an eyewitness to the things that were said and done during that trial. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had no fear of being associated with the Lord. She had witnessed the words and actions of Jesus more than anyone else, being with Him His whole life. Mary had stored up much in her heart to be amazed and to wonder over. It is to these two that Jesus spoke when He said, “Woman, behold, your son!” And to John, He said, “Behold, your mother!”

The word “behold” is from the Greek word oida, which means to pay close attention, to perceive, to see beneath the surface of something. It is also in the imperative tense of the verb, a command, hence the exclamation mark. In that moment, Jesus transferred the responsibility of caring for His mother to the one He knew would not back down or run from the assignment, John. And it was a big assignment. John was the youngest and he was fearless. At that moment, Jesus was also instructing His mother to the one she could lean on and depend upon to care for her, as a first-born son would do.

Jesus demonstrated in many ways the importance of first caring for those closest to you. He told His disciples to first go to the lost sheep of Israel before going to the Gentiles. He said they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Jesus appeared to ignore the Canaanite woman who begged Him to heal her daughter saying to her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” To which she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”  With that, Jesus made an exception, and healed her daughter, commending her for her great faith (Matthew 15:21 – 28)!

The point is clear: the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home. The love of God demonstrated by the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, providing forgiveness of sin and a new relationship with the Father for everyone who would believe, also provides for the daily needs of orphans and widows and the oppressed. No one is overlooked by God. Jesus revealed this truth from the cross with these words from John 19:26 – 27. This is God’s will and it pleases Him when you see the needs of those closest to you as well as those on the other side of the world. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.