JESUS' CONCERN FOR HIS MOTHER

Jesus looked at the crowd who had come to watch Him die. At the foot of the cross Jesus saw John supporting Mary, Jesus' mother. Mary had come back to the cross, for she could not stay away from her Son. Jesus looked into the troubled face of His mother. Then He looked at John.SRme 1.988

Jesus said to His mother, "He [John] is your son."SRme 1.989

"Then He [Jesus] said to the disciple, 'She is your mother.'" (John 19:26, 27).SRme 1.990

John understood Jesus' words. John took Mary to his home, and from that time on he lovingly cared for Mary. Jesus gave us a perfect example of loving concern for parents. Jesus was suffering terrible pain, but He did not forget His mother. He provided for her future care.SRme 1.991

The work of Jesus' earthly life was nearly completed. Jesus' tongue was dry, and He said, "I thirst." Some sour wine was placed on a sponge and lifted to Jesus' lips, but when He tasted the wine He refused to drink it [wine].SRme 1.992

Jesus, the God of life and glory, was dying in order to redeem man. Jesus took man's sin, so He had to bear the Father's anger as man's substitute. The heavy weight of sin broke Jesus' heart.SRme 1.993

All our sins were put on Jesus. Jesus had to be considered a sinner to save us. Jesus would redeem us from the curse of disobeying God's law. The guilt of every person since Adam pressed down on Jesus' heart. God's terrible hatred of sin filled Jesus with dread. Jesus could not see His Father's face when He was suffering the greatest agony. We can never fully understand Jesus' sorrow when He felt His Father turn away from Him.SRme 1.994

Jesus' suffering speaks to each of us, saying: "Because Jesus loved you so much, Jesus allowed these wicked crimes to be put upon Him. For you Jesus gained victory over death and opened the gates of heaven and everlasting life." Every drop of blood that fell from Jesus' head, His hands, His feet, tells us of His love. Terrible suffering filled Jesus as the Father hid His face from Him [Jesus]. Jesus suffered for us so that we might live in heaven forever.SRme 1.995

Jesus had calmed the angry sea by His word. He had walked on water. Jesus had made devils tremble and disease leave people with His touch. He had raised the dead to life. He made the blind see. Jesus, our precious Saviour, had done all these miracles. Now Jesus was offering Himself on the cross as the last sacrifice for us. Jesus took our punishment and became sin for us.SRme 1.996

Satan was at the cross torturing Jesus with fierce temptations. Sin is hateful to Jesus. When the sins of the world were piled on Jesus, He suffered terribly under the weight of those sins. Jesus' humanity trembled in that fearful hour.SRme 1.997

The angels were amazed at Jesus' mental suffering. Jesus' mental suffering was so great that He hardly felt physical pain. The angels covered their faces from the terrible sight.SRme 1.998

Nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Creator. The sun refused to shine on the terrible scene. The sun's full, bright rays were lighting the earth at noon, then suddenly the sun could not be seen. Complete darkness covered the area around the cross. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o'clock the frightening darkness was lifted from where the people were, but darkness still covered Jesus. Angry lightning seemed to be striking at Jesus as He hung on the cross.SRme 1.999

Then "Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'SRme 1.1000

which means, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'" (Mark 15:34, RSV).SRme 1.1001