March 11, 2023

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. John 19:25-27

Jesus made certain that his mother would be cared for during the rest of her earthly life. This expression of love by a dying Son to His mother laid both a command and a privilege onto John, who was most likely the youngest of the eleven remaining disciples. Can any of us fathom the pain of that mother’s heart as she watched her Son die on the cross? Her pain as a mother was only multiplied by agonizing concern for the pain that Jesus was enduring. His loving care and decisive concern for her future care was sure to be remembered as a balm to her aching heart.

Jesus made it clear that the pain and joy experienced by the objects of His love are His own (Matthew 25:40,45). As He saw His mother’s pain, it only added to His own.

As Jesus bore the sin of the world in its entirety, He felt, in that moment, that His Father had turned away from Him. Yet He spoke tender words to Mary and John even as He felt forsaken of God (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). It is often said that Jesus died of a broken heart. Sin breaks the heart of God because of the separation and grief that accompanies it. Yes, Jesus experienced the worst pain of all as He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). But His eternal purpose stands: that we might step into the light of His righteousness.

How is it even possible in the lowest of times to maintain concern for others above self? Let us at all times remember our perfect Example. He has so generously made available to us the power of His Spirit to transform us into agents of His righteousness—even as evil rages all around us. The essence of forgiveness is that we choose, even as He did, to absorb the wrong inflicted upon us for the benefit of others.

If we understand the unbreakable unity of the Trinity, we will know that our heavenly Father never forsook Jesus, nor will He forsake us. God sees the evil in the world, and it pains Him more than we are able to realize. Yet, His Spirit continues in gentle pursuit of each of us—to woo and to win us from darkness to light. And what joy it brings to His great heart of love when we overcome our urge to speak harsh words in difficult moments—and, instead, speak winsome words to our fellow human beings who long for kindness and Good News.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32