John 19:25-27 - Adoption At Calvary

Text: John 19:25-27

Title: Adoption At Calvary

Series: T.G.I.F. (Thank God It’s Friday)

Introduction: The four Gospels give us delineations of the Lord Jesus Christ in four distinct characters:

Matthew presents Christ as the Son of David, the king of Israel, and everything in his Gospel contributes to this theme.

Mark portrays Christ as God’s Workman, and everything in his Gospel bears directly upon the Servant and His service.

Luke depicts Christ as the Son of man, hence it is His human perfections, sympathies, and relations which he dwells upon.

John reveals Christ as the Son of God incarnate, the Word become flesh, tabernacled among men; hence it is His Divine glory, the dignity and majesty of His person, which are most prominent here.

This was a somber day; this was a sad day; this was a solemn day…on this parcel of ground! LET’S REVISIT WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE THIS SERMON’S SCENE…(read John 19:1ff)

There are three groups at the cross:

Jews were present – to satisfy their fiendish craving for His death.

Roman soldiers were present for duty.

The Mary’s, the Sister-in-law, and the other follower were there by affectionate devotion for the central Sufferer.

The name “Mary” means “bitter”; there were 5 people and the #5 is a number of grace. A very small company, five in all; yet a deeply significant number, for five is the number of grace, and in contrast from the crowds which evidenced man’s depravity and enmity, these were the trophies of Divine favor. This little company comprised four women and one man.

NOTE: “There stood by the cross…”

There has to be something positive out of all of what’s going on! Where is the redemption in the text! Jesus is on the cross, His voice has to be to almost a whisper after what he had endured thus far…Redemption is experienced through His relationship, His compassion, and His provision!

His Relationship

The Bible has distinctly given the proper roles of each person in the family. Everyone has a place…everyone has a lane…problems arise whenever any or all persons get out of his/her place…conflict arises whenever any or all get moves out of his/her lane…

Father – Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 23:13-14 (parents)

Mother – Luke 2:48: Proverbs 22:6 (parents)

Children – Ephesians 6:1

In the light of the fact that Jesus shared the faith of his people we are not surprised that he spoke here as a family man, and as a dutiful and devoted son. We can understand this when we bear in mind that Jesus was a member of a people that magnified family life to a superlative degree. The Jews believed that the family was a divine institution. They recognized that children were not so much born as they are made. What a child becomes depends mainly upon his parents.

His Compassion

Christ demonstrates His compassion in the midst of our pain!

Standing by the cross of Jesus…Jesus had his own cross…

“saw his mother” – pay attention to; concern oneself with

Marvelous fortitude was Mary’s. Hers was no hysterical or demonstrative sorrow. There was no show of feminine weakness; no wild outcry of uncontrollable anguish; no falling to the ground in a swoon. Not a word that fell from her lips on this occasion has been recorded by any of the four Evangelists: apparently she suffered in unbroken silence. The crowds were mocking, the thieves taunting, the soldiers callously occupied with His garments, the Savior was bleeding—and there was His mother beholding it all! What wonder if she had turned away from such a spectacle! What wonder if she had fled from such a scene! But no! She did not crouch away nor fall in a faint. She stood by the cross. What tremendous courage! What love! What reverence for the Savior!

Jesus, then, taking note said to his mother, “Woman, look! Your son!” It was very kind of him to say, “Woman,” and not, “Mother.” The word “Mother” would have driven the sword even more deeply into the soul of Mary, that sharp and painful sword of which Simeon had spoken (Luke 2:35). Here at the cross, exactly as at Cana’s wedding (see Vol. I, p. 115), it was very kind of Jesus to emphasize by the use of the word woman that Mary must no longer think of him as being merely her son; for, the more she conceives of him as her son, the more also will she suffer when he suffers. Mary must begin to look upon Jesus as her Lord.

His Provision

They (the Jewish family) emphasized the duty of children to parents. We live in a day that has put the accent upon rights rather than responsibilities, but the two belong together. In the state, to claim the rights of a citizen one should be willing to discharge the obligations of a citizen. It has been said “that if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

Keep in mind Jesus was dying. He was providing for his mother in the heartbreaking here and now, and not for the beautiful by and by. Provided for more than that she should have bread and shelter. He was providing her a home. Home is more than a place to live; it is a place to love.

The significance of those statements is further defined by the evangelist’s editorial note that “from that time on this disciple took her into his home.” The traditional role of the oldest son in a Jewish family was to provide for the care of the mother when the husband or father of the house was no longer around to care for the mother. It seems clear that Jesus here fulfilled his family responsibility as a dutiful son.

Prompt obedience…he took her home that very hour.

Conclusion

“…from that hour...”

Adoption carries with it “inheritance”

Adoption carries with it “inclusion”

Adoption carries with it “entrance”