Moment in the Word

John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

 

There were many subtle miracles performed at the Cross. Besides Jesus's magnanimous intercession for our sin, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)," a supernatural transfer/bequeathment was also made by Heaven's benefactor to His beloved, earthly beneficiaries at the time of the testator's death, "For, in the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it (Hebrews 9:16)."

 

And there Jesus hung, suspended on His Cross, dying for everyone to see...God's complete sufficiency for mankind (John 12:32).

 

After Christ claimed us as His brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:50), we became God's children since He sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. That same Spirit speaks for us by saying, "Abba - my Daddy... Father (Galatians 4:6)."  And by that indwelling, eternal Spirit, we are filled with God's Divine Presence to be sealed securely in infinite grace (Ephesians 1:13).

 

But returning to John 19:26-27, we notice something else. Jesus divested Himself of a lifelong kinship to Mary by saying, "Woman, here is your son." To the disciple, Christ spoke, "Here is your mother," and from that time on, the disciple took her into his home.

 

Before being born in a lowly manger to the Blessed Virgin, God's beloved Son had already officially renounced His Father's glorious throne (Philippians 2:6-8). Mysteriously, as He died, Jesus also disassociated Himself from His mother? Pouring Himself out unto death for our sakes (Isaiah 53:12), Christ - the poorest of men had absolutely nothing left to give (Matthew 8:20)! Along with His waning life, both Father and Mother were gone (Psalms 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).

 

But why relinquish His childhood bond to Mary?

 

By being impoverished of the most basic human right to maternal sonship, Jesus abandoned Himself so that we might claim His mother as our own... the noble woman who Christ chose for us. And like the disciple who stood at the foot of the Cross, we now have the god-given right to invite her into our home, as well.

 

My former associates might mumble, "That doesn't sound very... Protestant." No, praise God hallelujah, it truly doesn't! However, with age, I have witnessed so much foolishness attributed to group affiliation, that I am finished with the politics of denominational games to gain the mob's approval. Nothing more is necessary for my identity than, "an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17)," since my Savior did not come to save the group but rather rescue me (Luke 15:4). And, having finished redemption through His Son, the Father did not send His Holy Spirit to give gifts corporately to a group but individually to those who believe (1Corinthians 12:11).

 

Additionally, besides Father, Brother, and Mother; we are promised an even larger family of attending saints that doubtless includes deceased friends and relatives... since Hebrews 12:1 calls them a "cloud" of witnesses rather than a "crowd," signifying a heavenly presence instead of an earthly one.

 

And finally, if all these familial blessings are not enough, we have countless angels at our disposal, "For are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14

To receive so much goodness makes us wonder, "Why has God bestowed such favor on those He loves?"

 

God blesses us with everything we need, so that we will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others (2Corinthians 9:8).

 

Truly, as the old chorus says...

"We are blessed, We are blessed,

Everyday that we live, we are blessed.

When we wake up in the morning,

Till we lay our heads to rest,

We are blessed, We are blessed."

 

So, now... go be a blessing to someone else!