"My Last Will and Testament"

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, You willed that Your Son should bear for us the pains of the cross, that You might remove from us the power of the adversary: Help us to remember and give thanks for our Lord’s Passion that we may obtain remission of sin and redemption from everlasting death; through the same, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

Introduction: A person’s last will and testament outlines what to do with possessions, whether the deceased will leave them to another person, a group or donate them to charity, and what happens to other things that they are responsible for, such as custody of dependents and management of accounts and financial interests.

Thesis: Jesus thoughtfully cares for his mother by entrusting a disciple to look after her.

19:25 Women were expected to mourn and were considered a low risk for acting violently. Soldiers might allow them to come near a dying prisoner even if the soldiers wanted to keep others away.

My first will and testament, “Woman, here is your son.”v.26 Jesus’ mother might be a widow in her mid-40s; because men controlled most legal proceedings, having a male advocate was vital. Since Jesus as the eldest son was responsible for his mother’s care, entrusting responsibility to another before he died was important. Jesus had younger brothers (7:3-5), who would normally take the responsibility, but Jesus entrusts her care to a disciple, treating him as a member of the family(cf. Mk. 3:32-35). Testaments could entrust care for a family member to a designated person, and one who was dying could assign property or duties verbally. In contrast to many subsequent portrayals, Jesus’ cross left him close enough to the ground(like many other ancient crosses) for his mother and disciple to hear him.

My first will and testament, “Woman, here is your son.”v.26

My second will and testament, and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” v.27 Jesus asked his close friend John, the writer of this Gospel, to care for Jesus’ mother, Mary, whose husband, Joseph, must have been dead by this time. Why didn’t Jesus assign this task to his brothers? As the oldest son, Jesus entrusted his mother to a person who stayed with him at the cross-and that was John.

Illustration:SOMETIMES in baseball, a batter will have to do a sacrifice bunt. A bunt is simply taking the bat and tipping the ball so that it goes up the first or third baseline. The primary reason for bunting is to move somebody else on the offensive team farther along around the bases. A bunt is made because the team has a better chance of hitting it short and moving the person along, than swinging for the fence and perhaps striking out.

Now, when the third base coach gives the sign to bunt, it may come at a time when the batter had plans to swing for the fence. He may have planned to improve his average. He may have planned to improve his stats. He planned to show off his strength. He may have planned to serve notice on this pitcher that no way could he strike him out. But the third base coach tells him to give up his right to swing for the fence so that he can move his teammate along. “It is in the better interest of the team,” the coach says, “for you to sacrifice your home run swing,” which usually means you are going to be thrown out, rather than to follow your own independent agenda.

God has called every man in the context of his relationship with his woman to lay down his sacrifice bunt, to not have his way simply because he is the man, and to raise the question if this decision is in the best interest of the other person.

In conclusion, Our families are precious gifts from God, and we should value and care for them under all circumstances. Neither Christians work nor key responsibilities in any job or position excuse us from caring for our families. What can you do today to show your love to your family?

1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, Feed me now and evermore; Bread of heaven, Feed me now and evermore.

2. Open now the crystal fountain, Whence the healing waters flow; Let the fire and cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield. Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee; Songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee.

Ending Land me safe on Canaan's side Bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears Land me safe on Canaan's side Bid my anxious fears, bid my anxious fears, goodbye