Family Business from the Cross

Happy Sunday! Today we look at the third word from the cross. The first two words from the cross that we looked at in the last two weeks are so heavenly: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," and "Today you'll be with me in paradise." Are much different from today's word. This third word seems so earthly, so different.

If you have your Bible with you, look at John chapter 19. We begin with verse 23. "When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.' This was to fulfill what the scripture says: 'They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.' And that is what the soldiers did."

The Old Testament prophecy quoted there is from Psalm 22. John continues: "Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved," John, "standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."

This scene shows such a contrast. It began with the soldiers worried about a piece of cloth and not wanting to tear it, while they had no problem crucifying the Son of God and tearing Jesus to shreds. From their callous selfishness and indifference, we then see the suffering servant of God thinking of others and taking care of his family. From the cross, Jesus has taken care of business. Here he is following scripture and honoring his mother.

It's interesting to note that Joseph is nowhere to be found. Scholars believe that Joseph had died and that Mary is a widow. I find it a great lesson here that we have no story of Jesus raising Joseph from the dead. I think that in letting Joseph go, Jesus taught all around him a great lesson about the next life, that is, heaven. That became Joseph's new home.

So Mary was a widow, and it was the oldest son's duty to care for his mother. Mary and Joseph had other children. In Mark 6 we are told that Jesus had brothers named James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, common, common Jewish names. We're also told that he had sisters; their names are not given.

From the cross, Jesus chose the disciple John over his brothers and sisters. Why, especially in that culture? Why were the brothers skipped over? We're told in John 7:5 that his brothers were not believers. While that would change after the resurrection, as he was on the cross his brothers were not Christ followers.

Here Jesus, while in great pain, made plans to make sure that Mary was taken care of. Scripture is clear that we are to take care of our families. In First Timothy chapter 5, verse 8, we are told, "If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Jesus is taking care of his family.

But there's something more than biology going on here. Jesus truly redefined family during his ministry. Remember this from Matthew 12, verses 46 to 50: "While he was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, 'Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"

As a believer, my family is greatly expanded. I am part of the family of God. From Georgia to Mississippi to Indiana, the states where I have lived and served, I have family that I love, brothers and sisters in Christ.

One more lesson here. It's amazing to see how much of Jesus's ministry was devoted to providing for the physical needs of the people: feeding, healing, touching, talking, listening, caring. Jesus is showing in his dying moments his care for others. He is a servant; that's what servants do. We become Christ-like when, in spite of our difficulties, we care for our family, the family of God.

Pray with me. Lord Jesus, thank you for caring for us. Thank you for those in Christ. We thank you for expanding our families. Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ that I have that are watching this all over, and thank you that my life is richer for that.

Thank you for your example of caring for Mary and blessing John with that, not task, but privilege. Help us to look at caring for others as a privilege, something we get to do, not something we've got to do. Father, keep us close to you and to our families. In Jesus' name, amen.