“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!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
Let me briefly share some of my questions about this event. Children caring for their aging parents is a biblical principle. Jesus emphasized this in Mark 7 when He castigated the Pharisees for saying what they would have used to care for their parents was Corban, or given to God. Mary had other children. In Matthew 13:55 the people of His home town said,
“Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”
It is true that the brothers of Jesus were not yet believers. But I suspect that Jesus knew they would become believers after His resurrection. His brother James was a leader in the Book of Acts. Both James and Jude were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write part of The New Testament. Why were they not charged to care for their mother? And does it not seem harsh for Jesus to call Mary, “woman” in this passage? This is not the only time he addressed her impersonally. At the wedding in Cana of Galilee He said, “Woman. . . I have told you my hour has not yet come.” I still don't have good answers for these. But I can point out some truths in this passage.
1. First Jesus is in charge.
He is Lord of our lives. And He will give you clear instructions to obey. I am aware that some may read what I write that abuse this concept. A well known minister of the gospel declared that God led him to the woman he left the mother of his children to marry. You can know God is not telling you to do evil. You will need to struggle in prayer over such directions. But if you are not motivated by sin, you can trust God to lead you in matters like this. You can discern His will.
2. The bond of the Spirit is more important than blood ties.
Remember that in Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said,
I have known many people who had much closer bonds with Christian brothers and sisters than they did with their own families. In many cultures, to accept Christ means to be dead as far as your family is concerned. I believe this was as much of a ministry to John as it was to His mother. I imagine they grew to depend upon one another in many ways. I suspect they shared the embrace of the Son of God that they had experienced.
3. Sometimes, we need the Lord to speak roughly to us for our own sakes.
Mary needed Jesus to sever natural ties with her. And then she needed to be embraced by John in His name.
4. Possibly the most important lesson for me is that I am not in charge.
The Scriptures offend every culture and every person at some point. And it is fitting that I am uncomfortable here. When I decide I am the one to judge Scripture, I have ceased to submit to the judgment of God in His word.
http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/
http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/
http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/
http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/
FaceBook, The Published Works of David B. Young
https://www.facebook.com/bdavidyoung49/
Website
http://daveswatch.com/
YouTube
https://goo.gl/PyzU
He is Lord of our lives. And He will give you clear instructions to obey. I am aware that some may read what I write that abuse this concept. A well known minister of the gospel declared that God led him to the woman he left the mother of his children to marry. You can know God is not telling you to do evil. You will need to struggle in prayer over such directions. But if you are not motivated by sin, you can trust God to lead you in matters like this. You can discern His will.
2. The bond of the Spirit is more important than blood ties.
Remember that in Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said,
“Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
I have known many people who had much closer bonds with Christian brothers and sisters than they did with their own families. In many cultures, to accept Christ means to be dead as far as your family is concerned. I believe this was as much of a ministry to John as it was to His mother. I imagine they grew to depend upon one another in many ways. I suspect they shared the embrace of the Son of God that they had experienced.
3. Sometimes, we need the Lord to speak roughly to us for our own sakes.
Mary needed Jesus to sever natural ties with her. And then she needed to be embraced by John in His name.
4. Possibly the most important lesson for me is that I am not in charge.
The Scriptures offend every culture and every person at some point. And it is fitting that I am uncomfortable here. When I decide I am the one to judge Scripture, I have ceased to submit to the judgment of God in His word.
http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/
http://theanchorofthesoul.blogspot.com/
http://watchinginprayer.blogspot.com/
http://writingprayerfully.blogspot.com/
FaceBook, The Published Works of David B. Young
https://www.facebook.com/bdavidyoung49/
Website
http://daveswatch.com/
YouTube
https://goo.gl/PyzU
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