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March 19, 2014

Behold Your Son; Behold Your Mother

Preacher: Pastor Braun Campbell Series: Lenten Midweek 2014: CrossWords Category: Biblical Scripture: John 19:25–19:27

Lenten Midweek 2
St. John's Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA
John 19:25-27

CrossWords: “Behold Your Son; Behold Your Mother”

[B]ut standing by 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 standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27 ESV)

It’s like you’re dying. Maybe it wasn’t the best day to head to the supermarket, but there’s another winter storm on the way to bring yet more snow. You just wanted to pick up a few key supplies before the potential day at home tomorrow. You’d meant to go shopping earlier, but time got away from you with everything else that you had to do. So now it’s just a matter getting through checkout and heading home. Thanks to the coming storm, though, it looks like everyone else is trying to do the same. For whatever reason, the supermarket’s only got three open registers. While the cashiers are doing their best to move people along, there’s a problem with their new credit card machines so that they’re running slow – almost as slow as those people in the line who are writing out checks. It feels like it’s taking forever, like your life is slowly draining away and there’s nothing you can do about it. And, then, once you’re only one family back from being able to unload your groceries, it happens. Price check. The cashier has to wait for someone to run back into the aisles to find out how much they’re charging for a jar of Spanish olives. Arrrgh! Couldn’t the supermarket have opened a few more checkout lanes? How can this simple trip for groceries be taking so long? Think of all the things you could have been doing! The stress. The frustration. It’s built up and built up to the point that getting out of there is the only thing on your mind. You just want to get home and shut the door so you don’t have to deal with people any longer. Don’t they know you’ve got better things to do?

He’s up there, dying. That’s where we find Jesus in the Gospel text this evening. He has been hanging from the cross, but we don’t know how long he’s been up there at this point. It might have felt like forever, with his life slowly draining away. If you’ve heard of “excruciating” pain, that’s what Jesus would have known – literally, “from the cross.” But in the midst of that pain and suffering, Jesus hasn’t forgotten the people around him.
Throughout this time of Lent, we remember that Jesus went to the cross for us. Throughout his life, Jesus was righteous before God his Father. He never gave in to temptation. He always lived according to God’s plan for what human relationships should be. Just as he did all the others, Jesus observed the Fourth Commandment, “Honor your father and mother,” in every hour of his life.

On the Church’s calendar, today (March 19) remembers Joseph, our Lord’s guardian and adoptive father on earth. He cared for Mary and Jesus through their travels to Bethlehem and Egypt, then back home to Nazareth. We don’t hear anything about Joseph in the Gospels beyond the time that Jesus was twelve years old; however, it’s likely that he taught Mary’s son carpentry, the profession he practiced. And since the evangelists mention Jesus’ brothers and sisters later on – but not their father – Joseph had likely died by the time that Jesus was an adult. As the oldest son, Jesus could very well have been the breadwinner for his family after his adoptive father’s death before he started out on his public ministry. And now, as he hangs from the cross in excruciating pain, he still thinks of his mother and wants to provide for her.

“Woman, behold, your son!” “Behold, your mother!” Jesus entrusts his mother to his beloved disciple, John, who recorded this word from the cross, this “CrossWord,” that we hear tonight. Even as the two of them are going through the valley of the shadow of the death of their son or their friend, Jesus watches over them. Later on after the resurrection, at least one of Jesus’ brothers and sisters – perhaps all – would come to believe in Jesus as God’s promised Messiah; however, right now, at the foot of the cross in the closing hours of his sacrifice for them and us, Mary, Jesus’ mother, and John, Jesus’ beloved disciple and friend, have been made to be family. They will not be all alone.

Christians are not always Christ-like, even though we’re called to be. Finding yourself in a passing hang-up or inconvenience – like a long line at the supermarket – might push you to lose your temper or focus on your own needs and pains over and above the people right around you. That’s the nature of sin, tempting you to care for yourself first, and then maybe everyone else as your time, interest, or ability allow. Why care for your parents or your children if they can’t return your investment in them? How does their need matter if you need, too?

Even in his death, Jesus did not ignore the need around him. Instead of focusing on himself and his own suffering, he steps in and acts in love towards the hurting and the heartbroken. Jesus honors his mother by providing for her and seeing to it that she will be cared for through the rest of her days. Dying, Jesus remains the ultimate servant. That’s who he is. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s on the cross, for me and for you. In Mark 10:45, Jesus put it this way: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

On the cross, Jesus honored his parents – both his earthly mother and his heavenly Father – by giving of himself. Looking down from the cross, Jesus spoke to Mary and John in compassion. Mary was given a son. John was given a mother. And in Jesus’ death, we were given a Savior.

Living under the cross of Jesus, you can care for others because he cares for you. You don’t have to put yourself first, for he put you first. Look up to the cross and know that Jesus has freed you from the frustration that obligation to self can bring. You are forgiven. Jesus has come and ransomed you from sin and selfishness. And freed, you can care for others, honoring your parents and serving those in need.

Times will come when you are tempted to look out for yourself before anyone else. But if you are caring for others in Jesus’ name by showing them his love, know that there is nothing better that you could be doing.

Amen.

other sermons in this series

Apr 18

2014

It Is Finished!

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Scripture: John 18:1–19:42 Series: Lenten Midweek 2014: CrossWords

Apr 2

2014

I Thirst

Preacher: Pastor Braun Campbell Scripture: John 19:28–19:29 Series: Lenten Midweek 2014: CrossWords