Good Friday Service 2022

Woman, behold your Son (John 19:26-27)

We continue to reflect on the words that Jesus said from the cross, as the roman soldiers divide his garments after stripping him, Jesus is left more physically destitute, only wearing his inner garments. On top of that, Jesus was deserted by almost all his closest friends. The joyous crowds that received Him a few days before now vanished. Only a handful of people were with him at this most painful time.

Wouldn’t this be discouraging?. Yet at this time, even though He was physically vulnerable, Jesus did not waver. Our Saviour always acted according to the will of the Father. He continued to extend kindness to others even at a time like this.

I want to submit to you that there are 3 lessons we can take from this passage that should be very encouraging to us. First, Jesus, despite his suffering, made sure to care for His mother even while facing certain death. Thus, continuing to keep the Law perfectly, even now, by honouring his mother (parents) (Exodus 20:12). However, I would like to bring to your attention another aspect that should give us much comfort. Remember when Jesus was teaching a crowd and his mother and siblings came to talk to Him? The crowd let Jesus know about that... Matthew 12:48-50: “48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus, while on the cross, cared for His mother. Yet He regards those who do the will of His Father as His mother and brothers.

If you believe in Christ today, that same Christ who provided care for His mother cares for you.

Second, Jesus was vulnerable when He provided for Mary, His mother, and John (the beloved disciple). Yet He gathered physical strength to talk and encourage them even at this time. Christian. Our Saviour, in His meek and most humble moment ensured he would support them. But now, He is no longer nailed to a cross, He reigns in Glory! And from His throne, He is most capable of providing for us who believe in Him. He is powerful to secure us and keep us close to Himself despite of whatever storms we face. We are safe and saved with Him. We ought to take courage. As Peter says of Jesus in 1 Peter 3:22

1 Peter 3:22: who [Jesus] has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Therefore we can be encouraged in our faith, as He provided for his mother and disciple when he was humiliated, how much more would He be able to do now that He is exalted?

Third, and finally, notice that Jesus tells his mother to go with John and does not encourage her to look for Jesus’ brothers. Why didn’t Jesus simply get the family to care for their mother? And why would Jesus bring John into becoming a part of the family with Mary?

Remember that instance we mentioned in Matthew 12:48-50 about who are Jesus’ mother and brothers? John and Mary shared on their union with Christ as they walked along with Him. They are a family already. They both were part of the church!

Our bond, as brothers and sisters in Christ is even greater than that of family by blood. In a very real way, it is here that we find a new family. Jesus, hinted at this in Mark 10:29-30:

Mark 10:29-30 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Notice what Jesus talks about 2 times, the present and a future time. The one who left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father would receive a “hundred fold” in this time. I want to submit to you that the church is such a place. Here we have fellow brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, all, in a new community. All given to us by our union in Christ. Jesus provides the church to us and ultimately, eternal life.

What does this mean for us? Christian, take courage. Our Lord and Saviour takes care of us.

If He was eager to care for his earthly mother, how much more eager would he be now to care for His people who Hear and do the Word of God?

If Jesus could provide for the needs of his mother and disciple when He was at a time of need, how much more now that He is sitting on the throne in heaven?

And if Jesus ushered the creation of a new spiritual family, we can have a familiar refuge where we can love and serve one another.