The Personal Word
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We are looking at the seven last sayings of Jesus on the cross. We are looking at them individually and in order. The first saying was “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” It was the word of forgiveness.
The second was “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise”. It was a word of salvation.
Our third saying is a personal saying. It’s directed towards two very important people in Jesus life: Mary and the disciple John. It’s a word to a mother and a friend. I want us to see three things from this very personal word from the cross.
I. The Myths of Mary. It’s important that we think clearly & biblically when it comes to Mary.
A. The myth of the Immaculate Conception.
1. Mary was born without the stain of sin. She continued to live a life free from sin. This prepared her to be the mother of Jesus.
2. Because Mary was without sin her body never saw corruption. They teach she immediately went to heaven with a glorified body in the same way that Jesus was. This doctrine is called The Assumption of Mary.
3. The Scripture does not teach this.
Rom. 3:23- all have sinned.
Mary saw herself in need of a Savior. Luke 1:47 “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
Only sinners need Saviors.
B. The myth of perpetual virginity.
1. It is commonly taught that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. The Bible teaches that Mary had at least seven children (Matt. 13:55). Only one them was the result of a virgin birth!
2. There would be nothing virtuous about Mary remaining a virgin anyway. This appears to come from the idea that celibacy is more spiritual than intimacy. That’s not true, certainly not true if you are a young married woman.
C. The myth of mediation.
1. Mary is given titles the Bible does not ascribe to her. The Queen of Heaven, Mother of God. Pope John Paul II referred to her as the Co- Redemptrix. Mary isn’t mentioned in any New Testament Epistle. We see her in the gospels and briefly in the book of Acts.
2. Mary is given roles she does not fill. It’s believed that if we pray to Mary she can help us. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
3. To be fair, the Catholic church says they do not pray to Mary they simply ask Mary to pray for them. The problem with that is:
1) The Bible never tells us to ask people in heaven to pray for us.
2) Mary is not omniscient. She can’t hear all our prayers or know our hearts like God can.
3) Why pray to Mary when you can pray straight to God?
The Mary that Jesus is talking to in our text is not the Queen of heaven. She is not a sinless saint. She is not one who helps us to heaven. She is a sinner. She is a dedicated woman of God. She had the wonderful privilege of being chosen to bear the Lord Jesus. But she doesn’t sit beside the Lord on His throne. She bows before his throne like every other sinner saved by the blood of Jesus.
II. The Misery of Mary.
A. A prophecy was given concerning her misery.
1. Mary was given a prophecy through a man named Simeon. We don’t know much about him but he was just and devout. The Lord had spoken to him. The Lord told him he would not die until he saw the Messiah. After Jesus circumcision Mary took Jesus to the temple to offer the required sacrifice for a firstborn son. Simeon sees the baby and immediately knows this is the Savior. He causes quite a scene!
Takes the baby in his arms & begins to bless God
“Oh Lord, now I can die in peace! My eyes have seen your salvation”
“This child is a light to the Gentiles, this child is the glory of Israel, this child will cause many to rise and many to fall!”
Joseph and Mary were shocked. They stared in amazement at this elderly man worshipping God while holding their baby.
2. The prophecy was troubling. Not all Simeon said was about Jesus. He looked at Mary, not Joseph, and said “A sword shall pierce through your soul.” He probably didn’t say it to Joseph because Joseph was more than likely already dead when Jesus was crucified. What does that mean? How does a sword pass through your soul? It’s symbolic of torturous emotional pain. I’m sure the smile caused by an old man dancing was erased by that word of prophecy.
3. The prophecy was fulfilled. Look at verse 25 and you will see it. While most of Christ’s followers fled from the cross a few were drawn to it. Four women are mentioned: Jesus’ mother, Jesus’ mother’s sister (likely Salome), Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene (Jesus cast seven demons out of her.) John was also there (the disciple Jesus loved).These five people are so close to the cross they can see and hear Jesus.
There was misery in that prophecy.
B. Jesus’ property was gambled away.
1. This happens just before Jesus speaks to Mary and John. Look at verse 24. There were four soldiers. The Jewish man had five pieces of clothing normally:
the inner robe, the outer cloak, the sandals, a wide belt, and a turban. The soldiers evenly distribute everything except the tunic (coat). They decided to cast lots for it. Why did they want this stuff? Souvenirs? Greed? Selfishness.
2. Mary would have gladly taken Jesus’ property. Don’t you think? How many mothers have a shirt, hat, coat, handkerchief, sweater, or a tie, a pin of their lost child? It must have been heartbreaking for her to watch her sons belongings stolen, gambled away. This is happening literally yards away from her. She sees this! She would have gathered up his sandals, tunic, cloak, turban, & his cloak and took them all home with her!
3. These animals didn’t even offer it to Mary. They all had something. Would it have been too much to say “Here, dear woman!” You may wonder if they knew Mary was there, well Jesus was talking to her publically. Jesus had no money, no estate to leave Mary. Those clothes may have been the only earthly thing Jesus had. “Foxes have holes…”
There was misery in watching them treat Jesus possessions like they were nothing.
C. The pain of a parent.
1. Mary was Jesus mother. We know He is the Savior but He was her son. It worried her to death when she lost Him for three days in Jerusalem. When she found Him she scolded Him saying “I have sought thee sorrowing!” (Luke 2:48). When she said to the angel “Be it according to thy word!” she had no idea what she was getting into. She had already endured so much:
Loss of her reputation
Dirtiness of a manger
Persecution of Herod
Flight into Egypt
But nothing could prepare her for this. The cross! That was the Savior on the cross, but it was also her son.
2. To watch your child die is brutal. To hear your child has died is brutal. To watch your child die is almost impossible. To be the mother of the Savior must not have seemed like much of a blessing at this point. It was great when:
The shepherds were announcing His birth
When the skies lit up with angels to herald his coming
When the magi poured their worship out before Him
When He amazed the elite with his childhood wisdom.
But now the cross! At the cross to be the mother of the Savior was more of a burden than a blessing. She watched her child die the death of the cross. Verse 26 says Mary was standing by the cross. Frankly I don’t know how she had the strength to stand.
3. Her helplessness must have hurt. How many mothers find comfort in wiping a fevered brow, holding a child’s hand, tousling their hair? Christ suspended between heaven and earth was out of her reach. All she could do was watch Him suffer, watch the life slowly drain out of Him.
III. The Meaning of the Message.
A. There will be a change in the relationship between Jesus & Mary.
1. Mary and Jesus had been close throughout His life. His birth, His first miracle, throughout His ministry and now even here at the cross.
2. Their relationship was a result of the incarnation.
Jesus would have parents like the rest of humanity.
Jesus depended on His parents & He obeyed his parents.
As an adult he honored His parents. Joseph was obviously dead. As the oldest Son Jesus assumed responsibility for His mother. He cared for her.
3. The relationship changes as Jesus work comes to an end. “Woman behold thy son”= Our relationship has changed. In heaven Mary is not touted as the Mother of God. She is another sinner saved by the blood of Jesus.
B. John is given a responsibility. “Behold, thy mother” We may ask “Why John?” John already has a mom!
1. None of Jesus’ brothers were believers yet (John 7:5).
They don’t get saved until after the resurrection. They are all, however, present in Acts waiting for the Spirit (Acts 1:14).
2. John is going to live the longest.
He doesn’t die until around 100 AD. He’s the only disciple not to be martyred. One of Jesus brothers (James) will be killed around 62 AD. Peter asked Jesus how long John would live and Jesus said “That’s none of your business, even if I want him to live until I come back!” (John 21:23).
3. Mary and John had a kinship.
They both loved Jesus. John is called the disciple that was loved by Jesus. There is a deep love between John and Jesus. John is the only disciple at the cross.
C. Jesus has a concern for those He leaves behind. Note carefully verse 26 says Jesus “saw His mother”
1. It illustrates the duty of children. No one would have blamed the Lord for not speaking to Mary on this day. His plate was full. Yet Christ keeps the fifth commandment “Honor your mother!” You say “I can’t care for my mother”
I’m too busy
I’m too broke
I have dreams and plans
She is a burden
Look at Christ! He is caring for His mother from the cross! Even though He is:
Busy- Wiping away every sin in human history
Broken- Emotionally and physically suffering
Dreams & plans-of future glory & building mansions and kingdoms
Burdened- the weight of the world on His shoulders!
But Jesus finishes well. At the end of His life nailed to a cross He is still keeping the law perfectly honoring His mother. There is our example. He is concerned that we see His example and follow it. He shows us that there is never an excuse to forsake our family duties.
2. It illustrates Christ’s concern for grieving parents. He saw his mother because He was looking for His mother. He knew her pain. He cared! The shepherd watches the sheep. He sees Mary, broken hearted. He looks upon her with great love.
“And come ye sons behold the Christ
The noblest son of earth
In deaths dark hour He looks in love
On her who gave Him birth.”
Have you lost a child? Do you wonder if God cares? Look here! He does! He sees your sorrow. He is literally swinging the door to heaven open for myriads of people but is still concerned with one individual woman who is losing her son. Christ cares for the grieving father and mother.
3. It illustrates the temporary separation of believers from the Savior. Look at verse 27. John immediately takes Mary to his home. She lived with him until she died. We dwell together before we dwell with Him. Christian community is wonderful but it is not the fullness of our experience. I’m sure John and Mary had wonderful times talking about Christ. I’m sure they reminisced. I’m sure they rejoiced. I’m sure they shared stories. But they looked forward. Mary wasn’t looking forward to seeing her little boy in heaven. She was looking forward to seeing her big God in heaven!
We must be content with our imperfect Christian relationships down here for a while. We must dwell together for a moment. We must go to our houses & our own churches. But one day our hour will be up. Christ will take us to His home. Thank God for that!