Day 29 :: Family
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 19:25-27
I love to hear of children being adopted, but it’s maybe not a common story in Glasgow. In years gone by, it was often seen as a shameful thing, perhaps because mothers had to give up their children in unfortunate, or seemingly shameful circumstances. And yet, adoption is a wonderful picture of grace, as an unfortunate outsider is welcomed into a new family.
As Jesus hung on the cross, his mother, his aunt, and Mary Magdalene stood by. John, often called ‘the disciple Jesus loved’ in his gospel, was there too.
We’re not told how much of the previous hours they had witnessed, but we do know they saw Jesus nailed to the cross. They saw his body which had been torn apart from beatings. They saw blood pouring from his wounds.
Mary saw the eyes that had first looked up at her as a baby, now wearied, exhausted and fading. The child she had cared for, taught, and loved, was now a man suffering excruciating pain and shame in front of soldiers and onlookers.
We’re not told what came of Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive dad, but it would seem likely he had died by this point in time. Had he been alive, he would have undoubtedly been mentioned. Had he been alive, there would not have been the same reason for Jesus to use some of his last energy to speak to his mother and friend.
“Woman, here is your son.” (v26)
If Joseph had still been around, he would have been the one to take care of Mary. They had other kids, but it seems that they had rejected Jesus, (John 7:1-5) and so maybe they too had become estranged from their mother. Whatever had gone on in the background, at this moment, Jesus tells his mother to look to this man who stood near, and to take heart that she would be cared for.
”Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.(v27)
John accepted this new family arrangement and welcomed Mary as his own. He would care for her, provide for her, and love her as his own mother. She had a new family.
What phenomenal compassion and selflessness from Jesus. Hanging on a cross, the life literally pouring out from his veins, the difficulty to breathe increasing as his arms were raised, he thinks of the needs of others, and makes provision for his dear mother.
It’s a beautiful picture of why Jesus was there. He was dying so that outsiders like you and me might be brought into the family of God. He endured horrible, painful rejection so we might be welcomed in. On the cross, Jesus died to make provision for his people eternally.
Without Jesus, we’re spiritual orphans. We’re lost and alone, with nowhere to call home and nobody to call family. Not just orphans though, but rebels. We’d rather live on the streets than accept the invitation to live securely. We love our sin and find our home there.
With Jesus, we can be cleaned up and welcomed into the family home. Not through anything we’ve done, but because Jesus made provision.
Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.
Psalm 27:10
Even if we have no earthly family, we can be certain that the Lord will care for us, and we get a beautiful picture of that in local church life. Just as John took Mary into his home, we can lean on God and his people when we are in need.
I’m so thankful for the ways we can see this in our church, and I pray that we might grow deeper bonds of love, and that we’d continually welcome outsiders in.
Jesus has provided for us to be adopted into his family. We can rest assured that we will always find a home in him, we can extend that love and grace to others in practical ways, and we can receive that love and grace from others too. What a blessing it is to be brought into God’s family!
Passages to read: John 19:25-27
A thought to remember: Jesus died so we might be adopted.
A question to ask: What does it mean for your life to have been adopted into God’s family?
A song to sing: Who Are We?