‘When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”‘ (John 19:26-27 HCSB).

CHRIST’S THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS

Reading the four gospels together, there are seven last words of Jesus recorded. Anyone’s last words are considered important, so shouldn’t our Lord Jesus’ words be even more so? This is the third of Jesus’ last words from the cross. It is a word of care for his mother and it is particularly poignant. For as the Son of God suffered on the cross, he took time to address the needs of his earthly mother.

“Woman, here is your son!” He said, looking down upon his mother. Here, we see Christ’s divine concern expressed. Mary was his daughter long before He was her son. Here hangs the Creator, on a cross made from the tree He created, dying for those who have rebelled against Him, yet also taking care of the “woman” whom He had chosen to be His mother. God had chosen Mary to be Christ’s earthly mother, that He might become flesh and die for us. He wanted Mary to see beyond her role as mother and he as her son. He wanted her to believe in Him as Savior!

“Here is your mother!” He told his disciple, John. He gave charge of His mother to him. And John was faithful to His call: “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:27b). Yet, this relational calling implies more. John was called to care for Mary as his mother because they both believed in Jesus as Savior and Lord. She was indeed as a mother to John. This is the relational calling of those who belong to Christ.

Have you ever wondered whether God cares? Especially asking, “Does God care for me?” I’ve heard some say, “I’m sure God has better things to do than care about my little problems. Shouldn’t He be busy solving world hunger or peace on earth?” What do you think? Does God care for the details of your little life? Or is He too busy running the universe?

In this third word from the cross, we can see how much God cares for us. He cares for the big stuff and He cares for the little stuff too. There’s no detail too small for His loving care.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Your care for us. For You care about the details, both great and small. You cared enough for Mary to not only die for her sins, but to make arrangements for her care. What intimate love You have for us. What relational love You have offered to us through Jesus! Now we ask You to fill us with Your love and care that we might share it with others today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

(If you’d like to study more about Christ’s last words, follow this link to hear our sermon series on it: Last Words.)