CROSS-WORD # 4 – THE WORD OF AFFECTION
John 19: 23-27
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; this was to fulfill the Scripture: "THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS." 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
We
come to the most touching and tender of all the scenes that took place at
I POWERFUL Connection
- Jesus hung naked on the cross
- Problem: 4 soldiers – 5 garments
1. Head piece (turban or cloth)
2. Sandals
3. Outer Robe Outer Garments
4. Belt / sash
Each soldier could claim one
5. Undergarment – tunic – seamless – soft material
o called the CHITON – (ke-tone)
o Made by the mother for her son to show MATURITY
- God’s perfect sacrifice, SHEDDING his blood
- 4 sin-hardened soldiers , SHAKING the dice
-
Fulfillment of Psalm
-
As soon as the soldiers gambled for the CHITON,
Jesus SAW His mother
II POSTURE of Mary – She stands
-Remember the prophecy of Simeon
to Mary when she brought Jesus to the
III PROVISION for
Mary
- Here was Jesus, dying to save sinners, finding the time to make provision for His mother.
-
The requirement given on
- This was a double provision: Home for Mary; Spiritual fellowship
IV PROBLEM of “woman”
- So far as the record of the 4 Gospels goes, never once did Jesus call Mary “Mother”. Why not?
- Aramaic term translated “woman” conveys love, endearment, respect.
V PRESENCE of John
- Matthew 26: 56 – “ Then all the disciples left Him and fled.”
- John had returned to the Saviour’s side
- His cowardice was short-lived
- When we fail, we need to do three things:
a. ACTION of returning
b. ACCEPT divine grace
c. ASSUME renewed service
VI PONDERING our Position
- Mary encourages us not to cave in
- Mary envisions for us the rich potential of a strong faith
- We need to memorize and meditate on these great faith-builders from God’s Word:
a. TEMPTATION - I Corinthians 10: 13 No
temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able
to endure it.
b. SORROW - II Corinthians 1: 3,4 Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to
comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.
c. TRIAL - Isaiah 43: 2 "When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you
when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
d. WEARINESS and Frustration – Isaiah 40: 31Yet those who
wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will
mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, They will
walk and not become weary.
VII – PROXIMITY of Mary and Jesus at the cross
-
Spiritual pictures of: universal blight of sin ( Romans
- Universal need of forgiveness
Acts