​Week 45, Day 4

​Week 45, Day 4
November 10, 2022
Scripture: John 19
 
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26–27)
I’ve recently come to the point where I think Jesus is giving his deathbed blessing to the world on the cross. As the Patriarchs passed their blessings on to the next generation and their families, so Jesus is offering that on the cross. I’ve presented this in a sermon some time ago, but can’t help but see it now that I think it. Here is one of the more telling clues and why I think the way I do, it’s “Woman, here is your son...Here is your mother.”
Jesus is caring for his mother and his friend in one significant act of blessing. The two will care for one another. Just as a final word of encouragement from the deathbed would be to pass a blessing along to the family, John the disciple is welcomed into the fold of his family. Mary is not alone and childless. John is welcomed in and cared for in a new family. Unlike Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing, this is freely given and bestowed upon John. No stealing needed. Only the benevolent kindness of Jesus pouring out his life on the cross.
I like to think of this blessing as something that has extended to the generations. We have come to belong to the family of God, because of the blessings from the cross. We are forgiven. We are welcomed into God’s family. We are cared for through the faithfulness of Christ.
Christ dies that we may live.
You belong to the family of God.
It is finished.