When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

 Most of the crowd standing at the base of Golgotha were there for entertainment. Some, like the disciples, where there out of shock – i.e., Peter. But a few, and it was only FOUR people, that were there out of commitment.

• Mary the mother of Jesus
• Mary, the wife of Cleophas, which was Mary’s sister
• Mary Magdalene
• And the Apostle John, known as John the Beloved

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, His mother was standing near by. Can you imagine Mary’s horror as she looked up at her son who was suffering and near death?  Those of you who are parents – especially those of you who might have lost a child – can fully understand what Mary was going through.

As we ponder this story, one thing that we must keep in mind is that Mary was a woman who over her lifetime had experienced a great deal of sorrow and grief.

• What sorrow she must have experienced when she had to lay her newborn son in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
• What anguish she suffered when she learned of Herod’s plan to destroy her child.
• What hardship she faced when she was forced to flee to Egypt and stay there for several years to avoid Herod’s wrath.
• What grief must have filled her heart when she saw Jesus hated and persecuted by His own people.
• But all the grief that she had experienced through her lifetime did not compare with the grief that she must have suffered as she stood near the cross…watching her son die a horrible death.

 As Jesus was dying, He began thinking about His Mom.  He knew how much she was suffering and grieving for Him, so He spoke to her.  He provided her some words of comfort.

While Jesus was gasping for air, He looked down at His mother…who probably had tear-stained cheeks…and said to her, (paraphrasing) “Mom, let John take care of you.”  “John, please watch over my Mother.”  Though Jesus would eventually rise from the dead, He knew He would not be on this earth to care for His mother, which was His responsibility as the oldest Jewish son.

Therefore, Jesus transferred that duty to His beloved friend, John.  John became Mary’s surrogate son.

 See here the tender affection of these women toward our Lord Jesus in his sufferings. When all his disciples, except John, had forsaken him, these four still continued their commitment to Him. They could not rescue him nor relieve him, yet they stayed near him, to show their devotion. But that is all it was!

Jesus was the firstborn son of the family – but not the only child (Mt 13:55,56). But Jesus’ half-brothers were untrustworthy of taking care of Mother.

False Conclusions About This Event

1. That Mary is given great honor here
2. That the apostles were to care for Mary, and adore her
3. That Mary would be worshipped by the apostles
4. That Mary has any part in the mediatory action of Christ on the cross. But, she has no power or ability to intercede for the benefit of others.

(1 Timothy 2:5) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” Jesus taught much about praying but He nor any other Bible writer ever hinted that we should pray to her.

5. That Mary is a type of the Church
6. That the Apostles were to care for the Church like they would Christ’s Mother

Christians MUST take good care of each other – The greatest test of our commitment to the Lord.

(Matthew 25:40 NIV)  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

(Matthew 12:46-50 NIV)  While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. {47} Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” {48} He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” {49} Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. {50} For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 What was occurring during the ministry of Jesus?

(Matthew 15:1-11 NIV)  Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, {2} “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” {3} Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? {4} For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ {5} But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ {6} he is not to ‘honor his father ‘ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. {7} You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: {8} “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. {9} They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'” {10} Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. {11} What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.'”

See Romans 1 and Paul’s statement of the progression of sin…and that “disobeying parents” was on the list.

(1) JESUS SHOWS US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HONOR OUR PARENTS.

As a boy, Jesus clearly honored and obeyed His parents.  I think of the words of Scripture in (Luke 2:51) where we are told that Jesus “went down to Nazareth with (His parents) and was obedient to them.”

Jesus respected His parents and was always obedient to them.  Even on the cross Jesus showed Himself to be perfectly obedient…specifically to the fifth commandment, which teaches to honor your father and mother.

With His words from the cross, Jesus demonstrated how children of all ages are to treat their parents.  In essence, Jesus asked John to provide for His mother’s present and future needs.  To give her shelter, food, clothing, protection, and love.  Jesus arranged to have all that provided for His mother.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to provide for our parents.  We must provide our parents with food, shelter, clothing, protection and love.  Taking care of our families is important and it takes precedence over helping non-family members.

“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 Tim. 5:8).

We should strive to help as many people as we can, but we must provide for our family.  If we don’t, the Bible teaches that we have denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Many people present this morning have parents who are still alive.  Let me ask you, if I may, how are you treating them?  Are you continuing to honor them?  Are you taking care of them?  Is it time for a visit? A phone call?  A note? Is there a birthday or anniversary to remember?  Is there a special love that needs to be shown?  Or maybe there is a gravesite that needs attention.

Some words for the children

Proverbs 10:1 (NIV)  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.

Proverbs 15:20 (NIV) A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 19:26 (NIV) He who robs his father and drives out his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

Proverbs 23:22 (NIV) Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 29:15 (NIV) The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.