I trust your heart and mind has been thinking about the events of the Passion of Jesus Christ (John 18 – 20). It will take a “forever” to absorb all the truths displayed in His obedience to His Father to not only open the way to have a relationship with God and receive forgiveness for all our sins, but to be able to spend our “forever life” with our Creator God. What took place at Golgotha forever changed the destiny of committed souls to Jesus.
There isn’t a sufficient vocabulary to tell of all that took place before the Cross. The pain, mistreatment, false accusations, chosen ignorance, beatings and humiliation were beyond our human comprehension. We can only imagine its awfulness. But, to add to that, had you ever thought about how God, the Father felt?
The unimaginable pain and terror God would go through realizing that in order to save mankind, some One absolutely perfect would have to be surrendered as a Sacrifice to experience His torturous wrath and anger towards sin. I can’t imagine this kind of pain. The pain of a Father towards His Son, so you and I could be forgiven.
In John 19:27 I wanted to just comment about a few people that “were there” for Jesus, when most all of His disciples were conspicuous by their absence.
It’s most appropriate to cast our personal focus on Jesus’ suffering on the cross; but there were five other people who were suffering deeply in their hearts for what was happening to Him.
There were four women and one disciple present (John 19:25): His mother Mary, His mother’s sister, Mary, and the wife of Cleophas, Mary and Mary Magdalene. These women were experiencing the unimaginable horror of not only what they saw, but the emotional trauma of seeing their Savior, up close and personal, taking their place at the cross, as well as ours. There just weren’t sufficient words to express the inexplicable depth of their grief.
But as I spent some time weighing the scene, there was a most tender moment that we can almost gloss over. It was the comment Jesus made to His mother in John 19:26.
John 19: 26 “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” vs 27 “And to the disciple, “here is your mother.”
This was the third saying of Jesus while on the Cross.
With all the physical, emotional and spiritual pain this event was causing Him, His next words would bring a final honor to Mary. He expressed His compassion and love of His earthly mom by committing and entrusting her to His disciple, John.
In the next verse, Jesus was introducing John to the adoption of His mom to John’s life and his care of her.
Let’s allow those words to sink in! I have no idea of those reading these thoughts and if you’ve ever thought about the immense responsibility and devotion that John would now lovingly embrace.
When a person turns their life over to Jesus Christ, asking Him to be their Savior, they are experiencing the most meaningful “adoption” possible. For only then, can a person address God, as “their Father!”
WHAT AN HONORED PRIVILEGE!!!
But just for a moment, as I read those verses year after year, I never connected what took place when Jesus uttered those incredible words with what was actually taking place. JESUS WAS INITIATING AN ADOPTION AGREEMENT with His disciple John, and His mother, Mary.
Soon, Jesus would address His heavenly Father, verses 28, 29:
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus was about to leave this earth, after accomplishing the greatest sacrifice for the greatest purpose.
The sixth saying that Jesus spoke from the cross was the single Greek word tetelestai which means: It is finished! Paid in full!
Here was Jesus completing the “potential” ADOPTION AGREEMENT FOR US. It’s yours and it’s mine upon personally receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. His work on the cross obtains our salvation; it’s nothing earned by us at all! He did it all, and it’s called
“GRACE”
THE UNDESERVED FAVOR AND KINDNESS OF GOD
to allow His Son to take the punishment we deserve because of our sin!
IT’S A FREE GIFT…. but let’s not forget that it cost God the life of His son.
The reality of His death for you and for me grants each of us our own ADOPTION PAPERS bringing each of us into God’s family.
At the close of my quiet time, I read:
Proverbs 10:25, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich.”
The “truest and most valuable riches” in life aren’t possessions, position, power or prestige, but the. . . .“honored position” of being God’s child!
Why can no one earn his way to Heaven?
Because “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory (perfection) of God.” Romans 3:23
You have to understand that sin is much more than murder, robbery, lying, gossip and so on; in fact, sin includes anything that we say or do – or not do that is not pleasing to God. Therefore, EVERYONE falls short compared to the absolute perfectness of God.
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, here’s a prayer for you to call out to God.
I know I’m a sinner. I’m lost and bound for hell. There’s nothing I can bring You to earn Your favor, but, Father, by faith, I ask Christ Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Yes, I believe He died as my substitute and was raised for me. I believe He paid the full payment for my sin. And right now, I offer myself to You by faith.” Make me your child forever. Amen
Have you ever appreciated the fact that……………..
YOU WERE DESIGNED BY GOD
to live out
His plans and His purposes in your life!
Cups of Cold Water 