John 19:25-27
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”
It is said that when you lose someone you love, you not only lose the person, but you lose everything they were to you as well. Having gone through the loss of my beloved mother two years ago, I can attest to that fact. I not only lost my mom, but I lost my friend, my closest confidant, my greatest encourager, my dedicated prayer warrior and so much more.
Mary–in watching Jesus hang on that cross–was not only losing her beloved son but all he was to her. I can imagine Jesus was her friend, her comforter, her companion, her provider of basic needs, her healer, and yes even her Lord.
The overwhelming sense of loss threatened to swallow her up right then and there. Until Jesus, in his final most excruciating moments, utters these extraordinary words: “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
What are we to make of this mysterious statement? Surely this disciple didn’t become her actual son. And surely Mary didn’t become the disciple’s actual mother. No, but Jesus, I think, is revealing here an amazing truth about our Father in Heaven, our Jehovah Jireh–”the Lord who provides.”
In providing Mary with the disciple to take on the role of son and take her into his home, Jesus was initiating what was to become the new model and mode of God’s provision from that point onward. God’s provision for his people was to come not from above, not from below, not from thin air, but through his people. Through his church. Through his body. Through the one family of God. Look around–that’s us.
“You will experience loss, yes.” Jesus seems to be saying. “But never again will you experience lack.”
For the Kingdom of God is at hand. Loss is no longer equated with lack.
Who may God be sending to you right now to meet a specific human need you have through human hands and feet? Who may God be sending you to right now, to meet the specific human need of another through your very human hands and feet?
“Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
As we gaze upon Jesus on that cross tonight, may we remember the gift and privilege it is to be a part of the awesome family of our almighty God. The family through which God, by His Spirit provides for the needs of his people. For “…those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.”