-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
July 21, 2008
/--- Sponsor a Child with Compassion -----------------------\
For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
following link to learn more about sponsoring a child
through Compassion!
\--- http://ads.heartlight.org/email/92/ -------------------/
=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Woman Behold Your Son, by Phil Ware
We come to one of the most horrific moments of human history. Yet this
is also a sacred place, a crack in space and time where God lets the
forces of hell do the unthinkable to bring about our redemption. As
Jesus endures dehumanizing ridicule on the cross, we meet two sets of
four. Four hardened, death squad soldiers gamble for his clothes in
calloused greed in the shadow of his cross. Also nearby, four horrified
and faithful women watch helplessly as their Lord dies.
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing
them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment
remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top
to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's
decide by lot who will get it."
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
"They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my
clothing."
So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother
there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to
his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple,
"Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her
into his home
(John 19:23-27 TNIV).
Feel the stark contrast of a death squad's duty and a helpless mother's
horror. Every detail of this scene serves to magnify a son's love for
his mother in the last few moments he has breath.
"Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your
mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
If we want to know what Jesus loves -- who and how he wants us to love
-- how could he make it any clearer? Look closely! To the very end,
even in his agony, Jesus acts with love to his mother. In his last
moments, he looks to provide a home for her through "the disciple whom
he loved" -- a new family forged in the shadow of the cross.
"Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your
mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
In this moment, Jesus reminds us of God's concern for widows. Mary is a
woman who needs the care of family, something God has always expected
his community of faith to provide. To this point, Jesus' physical
family has not come to faith (John 7:1-5). But as Jesus mentioned early
in his ministry, his family was made up of those who do the will of God
(Matthew 12:48-50).
In addition, even as he goes through unspeakable grief himself, he
demonstrates his support of those who face grief. He had wept in
sadness and in anger as death claimed his friend Lazarus. He had been
touched by the grief of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:11-16) and by the
deep loss of parents of a twelve year old girl (Mark 5:21-43). His
concern for those who mourn is unmistakable.
Jesus shows each of these dimensions of his love even as his own life
ebbs away from his bleeding and abused body. While he has been
embarrassed, mocked, reviled, ridiculed, beaten, and tortured, Jesus
displays his love for his grieving family. While some of Jesus' sayings
from the cross offer us assurance and hope, this saying challenges us
to share his love for those most vulnerable.
"Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your
mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
But many have had less than stellar families. Some even have had awful,
abusive, families. What about them? Where are they to find and
demonstrate such loyalty and love?
Jesus' death calls into existence a new community: a family of faith.
This is a family tied together by their bond to the crucified Messiah
and the character of God himself! The Lord's death is the beginning of
a new family.
"Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your
mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
How important are these values?
This is a family where DNA and genealogy matter less than what Jesus'
death and his call to live for him mean to us. This is a family called
to care for the least, the last, and the lost. The marginalized and
forgotten are the very folks Jesus' family is called to embrace and to
offer protection and support. This value was declared in the Old
Testament: God places the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and cares for
the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner (Deuteronomy 24:19-21). Jesus'
"brother," James, called the early Christian community to embrace this
same value (James 1:26-27).
How important are these values? How important are those that society
often forgets? How important is it for us to honor our parents? How
important is it to care for those who grieve?
These are the ones to whom Jesus demonstrates his love in the moments
just before his death. How can we do less in the daily walk of our
lives?
"Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your
mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How do the events of the Cross create a new community of care?
Why is it important for us to care for the least, the last, and the
lonely?
What are some practical ways that Jesus' community can care for those
who are older or in need of protection and care?
I'd love for you to share your responses on my blog so we can address
these issues together in our families of faith:
http://www.thephilfiles.com/2008/07/20/community-of-the-cross/
---------
(c) 2008 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Pure Religion
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=19990428
* Resurrection Day
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200704/20070408_resurrection.html
* Drawn to Wood
http://www.heartlight.org/two_minute/2m_981223_wood.html
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080721_beholdson.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
HEARTLIGHT DAILY EMAIL /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/ \/
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are welcome and tax-deductible! Find out how to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-heartlight@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
heartlight-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
