Many Galilean women followed Jesus during the time of his ministry. We don’t know all that they did. Some likely helped with cooking. We know that others provided financial assistance for Jesus and his disciples. But there was one woman whom God used to serve Jesus more than any other; his mother, Mary. She swaddled him, nursed him, carried him, sung to him, laughed with him, and loved him every day of his life. From the day of his birth Mary of Nazareth stayed near her oldest son. She was surely within earshot as he slept in the feed trough. She carried him to the temple on the day of his dedication. She found him in the same temple twelve years later. She stood beside him at the wedding. She may have sat near him before he spoke in Nazareth’s synagogue. She sought him out as he taught in Capernaum. Though she wasn’t always right next to him she was likely never far away; even when the narrative didn’t mention her. Like any mother, her mind was frequently on all of her children.
On the hardest day of Jesus’ earthly life his mother was not far away. John remembered this way:
John 19:25 (NET)
“25 Now standing beside Jesusʼ cross were his mother, his motherʼs sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
As the blood ran down the wood Mary was near him. As the weight of Simeon’s words crashed on her, Luke 2:35b (NIV)”. . . a sword will pierce your own soul too.” she stayed near. As her son spoke his final words did her mind race back to his first? Mary was as close to Jesus’ last breath as she was for his first. In spite of the pain Mary stayed near. Could any mother forget her son’s agony like Mary saw that day?
Jesus wants all his followers to imitate his mother; stay near, listening closely, never forgetting his agony. That is why he picked up the bread saying, Luke 22:19 (NIV) “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” To remind us of his sacrifice he raised up the cup saying, Luke 22:20 (NIV) “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” The loaf and the cup are Jesus’ invitation to every believer; come close, do not be far away. Linger beside Jesus’ cross, just like his mother.
Stuart Powell
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.