JESUS KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

The Last 7 sayings of Jesus (#3)

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.”

Context: Through everything Mary and John endured and witnessed at the crucifixion of Jesus, They never left the cross. And it was at the cross that Jesus established a new relationship between her and John the Apostle. I submit to you tonight that during this Easter season may we be reminded, that no matter what we go through in life, may our prayer always be “Jesus keep me near the cross.” Because it as at the cross as the song writer once said...…

That I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,   And now I am happy all the day!

Intro:

As I read this passage the first question that popped into my mind was WHY! Why would Jesus have to say those words?  Why would Jesus have to say, “Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple here is your mother. And the only way to answer such a question is for us to take a look back in scripture and find out what led to Him having to say those words. So follow with me tonight as we go on this brief journey to answer the question.......

Reasoning:

Luke 1: An angel came to the virgin Mary and told her that she has found favor with God!

Mary like any good mother raise Jesus to the best of her abilities. For 33 years she had the privileged of not only giving birth to the Son of God but also raising him as well. She watched him grow from a baby, to a small child, to a teenager, to a young adult and then on to gathering his disciples whiles he preached and teach in the synagogues.

You see Mary and John was quite familiar with Jesus’ ministry they saw....

· John 2: Jesus turned water into wine – and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

· Mark 5: Jesus cast out legion out of a man – and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

· John 9: Jesus healed a man born blind – and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

· John 11: Jesus raised Lazarus back from the dead – and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

· Luke 8: Jesus heal the woman with the issue of blood – and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

Luke 17: Jesus healed 10 men with leprosy - and yet they still CRUCIFIED HIM

· Matthew 14: Jesus fed 5,000 people not including the woman and children – and yet they still CRUCIFIED her baby.

· Jesus fed the 12 – and yet He still was betrayed by one.

· Jesus taught the 12 – and yet He still was denied by an other.

She watched.....

· Him being Lied on

· As he was WHIPPED with chunks of flesh leaving His body after every slash.

· As he was being BEAT with rods

· As he was being SLAPPED

· As he was being SPAT ON

· As he had a crowned of thorns placed upon His head

As he had his clothes stripped and they gambled for it at his feet.

· As he was nailed hands and feet to an old rugged CROSS

They had every reason to be like the other disciples and run away. They could have crumpled with shame as they watched him being beaten and carried to his death. Throughout everything that Jesus endured they never left the cross. Mary never took her eyes off of the one the angel came to prophecy to her about, they never took their eyes off of the one, who came down to earth, took on the flesh of man, walked the earth sinless, and is in the process of dying for the sins of humanity. And because her eyes was fixed upon the Jesus the Christ… he looked down from the cross, and the saw the pain in his mother eyes, and he formed a relationship between her and John, so that her earthly needs could be met. This is Jesus the Christ that we are talking about today, that even through the beatings, through the mockings, through the whippings, being nailed to the cross, he not only forgave them, as we saw in the first saying, but he also answer the need of his mother and the disciple.

During this Easter season, may you be reminded to never leave the cross.

The doctors report might come in, but I am staying near the cross.

The bills are coming and its overdue, but I am staying near the cross,

the money starting to look a little funny but I have decided I am staying near the cross.

The children might be behaving good and stink but I am staying near the cross.

I don’t know where the scholarship is coming from but I am staying near the cross.

I don’t know what the future may hold but I am staying near the cross.

It doesn’t matter whether vat goes up, down or all around because I know who holds my hand

My eyes will remain, on the one who took the cross for me, my eyes will remain on the one who sets the captives free, my eyes will remain on the one who saved my life.

Remind yourself that the Bible says,

In Psalms 30: weeping may endure for tonight, but joy is coming in the morning,.… I am staying near the CROSS

the psalmist David said… yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.......I am staying near the CROSS

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.....… I am staying near the CROSS

Psalm 27:1–5 “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”

That’s why I could agree with the song writer when they said........

At the cross, at the cross where

 I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,   And now I am happy all the day!