SEVEN SAYINGS FROM THE CROSS

A THEOLOGY ON THE FAMILY

"DEAR WOMAN, HERE IS YOUR SON"

(JOHN 19:26-27)

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.    This morning, we will continue in our series on the seven sayings from the cross.

 

III.  THE THIRD SAYING FROM THE CROSS IS FOUND IN (JOHN 19:26-27).

 

§         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.

 

A.          FIRST OF ALL THIS MORNING, LETS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS STORY.

 

1.       While Jesus was hanging on the cross, His mother was standing near by.

 

2.       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 have lost a child – can fully understand what Mary was going through. 

 

3.       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.

 

a.    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.

 

b.    What anguish she suffered when she learned of Herod’s plan to destroy her child.

 

c.    What hardship she faced when she was forced to flee to Egypt and stay there for several years to avoid Herod’s wrath.

 

d.    What grief must have filled her heart when she saw Jesus hated and persecuted by His own people.

 

4.       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.

 

5.       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.

 

§         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.

 

6.       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.

 

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

 

B.         HERE ARE SOME LESSONS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS STORY.

 

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

 

1.      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.”

 

2.      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.

 

3.      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.

 

4.      As Christians, we have a responsibility to provide for our parents.  We must provide our parents with food, shelter, clothing, protection and love. 

 

5.      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).

 

6.      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.

 

7.      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.

 

8.      Brethren, we need to treat our parents with special honor. 

 

(2)     SECOND, JESUS TEACHES US THAT WHILE WE ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, WE CAN STILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

 

1.    Even though Jesus was suffering on the cross, He was still concerned about others.

 

2.    At times, when we are struggling with difficult situations, we become self-focused.  We become so absorbed with our own struggles that we neglect those around us.

 

3.    But Jesus shows us that when we suffer, we should not only be concerned with our own welfare, but also with the welfare of others.

 

ILLUSTRATION: 

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child, whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

4.    Brethren, no matter what kind of trial we may be experiencing, we should still be concerned for others.  We need to set aside our problems and help comfort people with their problems.  We should do what that caring little child did in the story I just read…recognize a need…climb into someone’s lap…and cry with them.  

 

CONCLUSION: 

 

1.    In closing, we have learned several lessons from Jesus’ third saying from the cross.

 

a.    We have learned how important it is to honor our parents.

 

b.    We have learned that even when we suffer…we should still be concerned about the needs of others.

 

2.    At this time, we never want to close a service without offering an invitation, so if you would like to respond, please come now as we stand and sing.

 

Primary Resources Used To Develop This Lesson: 

 

Sermon By Bruce Goettsche 
Seven Sayings One Friday By Kenn Filkins
The Compelling Power Of The Cross By Dr. John Hobbs
Sermon By Dr. James McCullen