Woman Behold Thy Son...

John 19:25-27

When Christ went to the cross He went there for forgiveness. But what did it cost Him exactly to forgive? What is the price of forgiveness? His life of course. But not just His life, it cost Him everything He held dear in this world. His disciples, were scattered. The only company He had at the end were women. These women were more courageous than all His disciples combined, except for one, John.

To this point, Christ has been nailed to the cross, where He asked God to forgive the ignorance of his accusers, and the brutality of His executioners. Christ has been humiliated and exposed, beaten and mocked by those condemned alongside Him. We've seen Him ask God to forgive and we've witnessed Him forgive a convicted thief as well. Now we are going to witness the 3rd cry of Christ from the cross, a cry of compassion, a cry of conviction, the cry of a caring heart over His dear mother. Look with me in John 19:25-27…

Proposition: When we think of Christ we tend to separate His deity from His humanity, but we cannot do that, they are inseparable. HE was 100% God and 100% man.

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Interrogative: Do you truly realize what Jesus endured on the cross to purchase your forgiveness?

TS: The cross represents, not only redemption, but suffering as well. Not simply physical suffering, but emotional suffering as well. Let's look at some of the emotional suffering Christ endured on the cross:

Social Suffering v. 25 (vv. 23-24)

His disciples had abandoned Him

Judas was dead

Peter had denied Him

Only John stood by His side

The women in His life were much more courageous than His followers

God has given to women a deep-seated love

The Jews rejected Him

The Romans Crucified Him

Emotional Suffering v. 26

It's believed by most scholars that Joseph was long dead and the Jesus had been caring for His mother

As He looks down into her eyes and sees the one who birthed Him, fed Him, changed Him, cared for Him, understood Him like no other, the one who never doubted, the one who believed in Him completely, His heart broke.

Spiritual Suffering v. 27

In verse 26 Christ didn't refer to Mary as "mother", but used the term "woman".

This was not out of malice or even to be demeaning, but He was beginning to distance Himself from her

He understood that Mary could have easily been exalted and worshiped and so He distanced Himself from her and "sent her away" (we know that she has been lifted and worshiped today)

In verse 27 Jesus gives to "the disciple" the responsibility of caring for His mother, something John acts on immediately

IT's important for us to realize that at that moment John takes Mary, and as far as we know the rest of the women, away from the cross of Jesus

Why would Jesus request this?

He knew that what was about to take place was something this world had never seen or experienced

Jesus, God the Son, was about to be disowned by God the Father

Conclusion: In 2022 we think we have it bad. "God is dead." That's what we hear. We're told that God doesn't care about us, but that is not true. God most certainly does care for each one of us. "Why doesn't God ease our suffering?" "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" These are some of the lies we're told, right?

You think you've got it bad? Jesus suffered social death in Israel. No friends, just a handful of women and 1 of His 12 disciples. One of them betrayed Him, and one of them denied Him, and all the abandoned Him. How bad do you have it? You think you're all alone? Jesus was all alone when He was nailed to your cross to pay for your sin.

You think you're suffering emotionally? Imagine How Jesus felt as He looked down helplessly from the cross at the one person who never, not one second ever doubted Him. We've all lost loved ones I know, but guess what, in our lifetimes, we've most likely had a group of people who loved, supported, and encouraged us along the way. Jesus had one person on this earth and HE was about to leave her. Imagine how Mary felt seeing her son die, believing but still hurting.

You think you're suffering? Imagine the pain that must have come when for the first time in history God the Father separated Himself from God the Son. You don't know what pain is.

Think about this, there is nothing you're suffering through that Jesus Christ Himself hasn't already suffered through when He took your place on the cross. He's already felt your pain, your suffering, your loss. Let me ask you, have you trusted Him as your Savior? If not, why not? He went to that cross to pay for your sin, to take your place, why not turn to him today?

The Songwriter explained the unique relationship between Mary and Jesus this way…

THE WONDER OF WONDERS

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE LOOKED ON HIS FACE, THAT THIS LITTLE BOY SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO PLACE. THE STARS AND THE MOON SHINING BRIGHTLY ON THEM, THE EARTH AND THE SUN WERE CREATED BY HIM.

CHORUS

THE WONDER OF WONDERS, OH HOW COULD IT BE, THAT GOD BECAME FLESH AND WAS GIVIN FOR ME. THE ALMIGHTY CAME DOWN AND WALKED AMOUNG MEN, THE WONDER OF WONDERS, HE DIED FOR MY SINS.

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE LOOKED DOWN AND SMILED, THAT HE WAS HER MAKER AS WELL AS HER CHILD. HE CREATED THE WOMB THAT HAD GIVIN HIM BIRTH. HE WAS GOD INCARNATE CAME DOWN TO EARTH.

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE HEARD HIS SMALL CRY, THAT THIS VOICE HAD THUNDERED ON MT. SINAI. THE SMALL HAND SHE HELD SO TENDERLY HAD MADE A DRY PATH THROUGH THE MIGHTY RED SEA