Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdelene. 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, the disciple took her into his home. –John 19:25-27
Today’s Scripture passage really hits home to me for a couple of reasons: first, of all, I like how it shows Christ’s compassion for the woman He called His mother here on earth. It’s a reminder to us all to place a high priority on taking care of those we love… especially close family members.
But it’s also dear to me because it reminds me of the privilege I had in spending time with my own mother before her passing. Those were not easy days for either one of us… but through the pain I really sensed God was doing a special work in each of our hearts.
Christ’s death, burial and resurrection reminds us to draw near to our heavenly Father with a heart full of gratitude. Remember how painful the sacrifice of His Son was — both for Him and for you. Then, rejoice when you think about the fact that soon we’ll all be together again in heaven. And, for now, it’s our responsibility to care for our families and see that the legacy of faith continues.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Which member of your family do you think Jesus would want you to demonstrate special care for today? What specific loving action can you take today towards this family member?
2. What obstacles stand in your way preventing you from passing along your legacy of faith to your family? What can you do to remove those obstacles?
FURTHER READING:
Matthew 10:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:8