“WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT”!

TEXT:  ST. JOHN 19:26-27

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son.  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Now there stood by the Cross, the Jews – satisfying their fiendish craving for His death.  Roman soldiers were there for duty, but Jesus noticed a small company of five who were “trophies of divine favor”.  He knew they were there because of their affection or love for Him.

This small company was composed of four women and one man.  Five is the number of “grace”.

• There was Mary, the Savior’s mother – now experiencing the flashback of a prophecy spoken thirty years before by Simeon in Luke 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
• Mary the wife of Cleophas; Mary’s sister.
• Mary Magdalene:  one from whom Christ cast out seven devils; the one he appeared to first when he arose from the dead.
• Mary, Lazarus’ sister.
• John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Here Jesus is hanging naked on the Cross.  His clothing stripped from Him by Roman soldiers, who greedily played games for His garments.  They threw dice to divide the four articles of clothing among themselves.

Keep in mind, His mother has been there all along.  Her own safety, sadness or insults of the crowd couldn’t keep her from performing her last duty and office and tenderness toward her Divine Son on the Cross.  In the supreme hour of agony when the world has cast out the child of her womb, she stands there baffled and paralyzed at his suffering but yet bound by the golden chains of love to the dying one.

No outcry of uncontrolled anguish nor falling to the ground nor even a word fell from her lips - just standing, apparently in unbroken silence.  What’s love got to do with it!!

Question – why hasn’t Jesus acknowledged or spoken to her before now?  Could it be because of His seamless robe?  His other garments were paraphernalia that kept Him comfortable during His earthly ministry.  But when they touched that “robe”, they touched something near and dear to Him.  They were touching Him – not an ordinary “robe”.

In the natural, that “robe” covered Jesus’ physical body.  That “robe” symbolized the “righteousness of God” which is His character, conduct, or the right way of doing things; the fruit of His Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.  

Spiritually, He has covered you and me with the “robe of righteousness”.  As a statement of truth, we are become His righteousness!  2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the “robe of righteousness”.  Same God then is the same God now!!  

In Malachi 3:6 it is written, For I am the LORD, and I change not.  Jesus Himself was the “righteousness of God”!  

Jeremiah 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch.  (Verse 6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:  and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  

Jeremiah 33:15  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

The “robe” was “one piece”, symbolizing the Godhead; unity; unbroken perfections of His ways.  St. John 10:30  I and my Father are one.  This “robe” symbolized “truth”!  That’s why it was seamless and couldn’t be divided – “truth can’t be separated”!

When they began talking about handling that “robe”, it’s no wonder His eyes fell on His mother.  She weaved that robe for Him at a young age and gave it to Him when He reached manhood.  He also knew what that “robe” represented (the righteousness of God), which was what He was going to clothe the “Woman” (the church) with, which is what His mother represented!  Revelation 19:8 And to her [the church] was granted that she should be arrayed  (clothed) in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Now at the closing moments of His life, in the midst of undesirable suffering, He took the time to take care of His mother.  Through His own pain, He had her welfare and protection near and dear to His heart to the very last.  He spoke to her, “Woman, behold thy son” (John 19:26).  Then spoke to John, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:27).

Question, ”Why would Jesus choose this time, in the agony of pain and suffering on the Cross, to make this statement”?  He could have addressed this issue before going to the Cross.  He could have told John the night before while in the upper room.  He could have leaned over while John’s head rested upon His breast and asked him to take care of His mother.  He could have told him after His resurrection because He spent a lot of time with Mary and His disciples before His ascension, but He didn’t.

I can see Jesus stating the other six sayings He made because they were unique to the Cross and because He was obeying directly fulfilled prophecy that had to take place during His death.  However this saying to His mother and John did not have to be said on the Cross, but He chose this moment when He was hanging on the Cross, paying for the sins of the world, to stop and take care of Mary’s and John’s future.  Why?

He was revealing that He wanted us to view the very heart of God (not the “heart organ”), but the very core, or Spirit of God.  He was showing us how much God actually loved us.  St. John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  For God so loved that He was compelled and motivated to give!  His giving was love!  His giving was HIMSELF in the flesh body of Jesus!  So, What’s love got to do with it!!  It has everything to do with everything!

Tina Turner said, it’s a second hand emotion.  Anything that’s second hand is less than perfect, less than desirable.  It’s like the calm before the storm!  Things might be going good for now, yet sooner or later here comes the storm.

There’s nothing second hand about our God!  He’s not less than perfect nor is He undesirable!  Matthew 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 John 4:8  God is love.  Because He is love, so it was love that brought everything into existence.  Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God [love] created.  Love is impersonal.  It loves for the sake of loving.  Love is not concerned with what or who it loves – neither of the return of love.  That’s why it is unconditional.  Love sees good everywhere and in everybody, and it insists that all is good!  It’s a great harmonizer and healer!  When you call on God for divine healing, you are calling on “love”!

Here Jesus is preaching from the pulpit of the Cross, Exodus 20:12 the fifth and first commandment with promise – Honour thy father and thy mother:  that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.  To the very end He showed Himself both the perfect Son of God and perfect Son of man!  In both, He “honored” His parents.  

Luke 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  So does He now on the Cross.  About to leave this world, He provides a home for His widowed mother.  Jesus was demonstrating that in the hustle and bustle of life, even while in service to the Lord, we have a responsibility to our parents.  He was showing us that it really doesn’t matter what He was going through, He was not too busy or too tired or distracted to care for His mother who needed a place to lay her head.

First He prayed for His enemies.  Then he spoke words of salvation and assurance to the repentant thief, and now He addresses his mother.

“Woman” in the Greek is “gune”, meaning, a wife, which symbolized His bride whom now He was ready to become united in matrimony with (the church)!  One might think Him using this term to address His mother seemed cold at a time like this.  But it’s neither harsh nor discourteous.  His death on the Cross brought an end to all of His natural ties.

2 Corinthians 5:16  Henceforth, know we no man after the flesh:  yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth  know we Him no more.  Simply saying, “The format has changed”!  From now on, you will be linked to me by a closer bond!  

John 4:24  God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  

1 Corinthians 6:19  What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.  

Luke 17:21  The kingdom of God is within you!  God’s kingdom is not in a physical location, nor a geographical area, and surely it’s not up beyond the blue.  It’s in the abode or dwelling place of God which is “in you and me”!  The “kingdom” is power, ruling, reigning, and authority being in a “high place in God”!  

1 Corinthians 4:20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power!  

Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Jesus was letting His mother know, “I am thy son no longer”.  He was laying aside human affection, and said “Look upon thy son John, one who cares for you, one who has taken his place by your side, and one who would not allow you to stand here alone”.

Then to John (one He loved), He said, “Look upon thy mother, regard her henceforth with tender loving care.  She is my living legacy to you”.  Oh what great honor!!!

Jesus appointing John to fill his position as Mary’s son was a higher place than he had given Peter (faith).  Hebrews 11:6  Without faith it is impossible to please him (God).  John represents “love”, which is the strongest bond in the universe!  Remember when Mary reported that Jesus had risen, Peter and John ran to the tomb.  Peter (faith) arrived first – but John (love) was first to enter the tomb.

Did I hear someone say, why didn’t Jesus leave his mother in the care of his brothers? Cliché – “blood is thicker than water”.  “DNA” cannot take precedence over “spirituality”!

Look at God – blending divine and human perfection as man, honoring His mother.  As God, He is head of family, making arrangements for the children.  Isn’t God AWESOME!!!

Jesus’ death on the Cross called into existence a new community, a new family of faith.  When He looked upon the “five trophies of divine favor” at the foot of the Cross, He was looking at the “Church”, the body of Christ!  The Church is not a building.  It’s people, family!  God is a family man.  He has always had family even from the beginning.  The church takes precedence over biological family.  
Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:  for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

He was calling them into a mutual responsibility of care.  Not a superficial relationship of being nice to one another.  It wasn’t about offering words of support, nor was it about sending cards or flowers on birthdays or Mother’s day.  He was speaking the body of Christ (the church) into existence.  They were to take care of each other like a real family.  Family is the building block of society.

That’s the mission of the church.  Acts 2:43-47  And fear came upon every soul:  and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Paul stated in Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  The church was one of the gifts Jesus gave to us from the Cross!

So let’s take courage in the care, power, and provision of our Lord.  If He was eager to care for His mother, how much more eager will He today care for us who hear and do the word (work) of God?

If He could provide for the need of His own in the moment of His greatest weakness and humiliation, how much more can He provide for our need in His present wealth of power?

He is Jehovah Jireh – our Provider!  Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If He purchased the Church with His own blood, “and did”, and ordained that in it, mothers find sons, and sons find mothers, then no one should be without a caring family today in the body of Christ!

NOW, “THAT’S WHAT LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT”!!!

Evangelist Brenda Hansley