BEHOLD THY SON! AND BEHOLD THY MOTHER!

JOHN 19:25-27

INTRO: John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Our Lord Jesus said that, He not only died for His friends, He also died for His enemies.... Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, Jesus said, Woman behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!

If you and I had been in Jerusalem that Passover afternoon when Jesus was crucified, I wonder how near the cross we would have stood. The four Roman soldiers were there, but they were there because of duty. The four women were there, with the Apostle John; but they were not there because of duty. They were there out of devotion; they loved the Lord Jesus.

What does it really mean to be near the cross of Jesus? Perhaps the best thing we can do is just talk to the people who were there. Let's interview Mary Magdalene, Salome, the two Mary's and John and find out what it really means to be near the cross of Jesus Christ.

I: A PLACE OF REDEMPTION:

Let's begin with Mary Magdalene, let's ask her "What does it mean to you?" I think she would have answered, "The cross to me is a place of redemption.

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in Luke 8:2 as a woman out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons. Mary Magdalene not only was at the cross, but also early on the morning of the resurrection she came to Christ's tomb.

She had been possessed with seven demons. All who are unsaved are controlled by demonic forces.. Ephes. 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Satan was at work in Mary Magdalene's life, and then Jesus delivered her from those demonic powers.)

When you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, these marvelous changes take place in your life. You go from darkness to light.

You go from the power of Satan to the power of God. You go from guilt to forgiveness. You go from poverty to wealth. This miracle of redemption is a costly thing. When Jesus delivered Mary Magdalene from the power of the Wicked One, it cost Him something.   Jesus had to die that we might be redeemed.   For me to move out of the darkness into the light, He had to move from the light into the darkness.   For me to be delivered from Satan to God. Jesus had to be forsaken by God.

For me to be delivered from guilt to forgiveness, Jesus had to be made sin for me.

For Him to make me rich, He had to become the poorest of the poor.

NO WONDER Mary was standing there at the cross.

Can you say, "I have trusted Jesus Christ, and He has moved me from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, from the guilt of sin to forgiveness, from poverty to an inheritance through faith in Him?"

Ask Him to save you, and then you can take your stand near the cross, a place of redemption.

II: A PLACE OF REBUKE:

as the woman who came with her sons asking for thrones. (Matt:20:20-28).

They had heard Him say that the apostles were going to judge the 12 tribes of Israel, that they were going to sit on thrones; and they wanted to be sure they had good seats!   Jesus ask them, "Are you able to drink the cup I'm going to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism I'm going to experience?" They said Yes we are... James was the first of the apostles to be martyred.

John was the last of the apostles to die, and he went through great persecution and suffering before he was called home.

Salome would say the cross to me is a place of rebuke. I stand here rebuked because I was so selfish.

She might well be ashamed of herself-- As all of us should be when we pray selfishly! ( I want something for my sons; I don't care what it costs. I want It!)

We need to all remember "there is no crown without a cross.. Even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself did not return to the throne except by way of the cross. God will answer prayer, but we must be sure we can pay the price..... Are you willing to be baptized with the baptism of suffering.. Are you willing to drink the cup? (Maybe God is rebuking our selfishness, pride and desire for glory without suffering as we stand at the cross.)

III: A PLACE OF REWARD:

Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus, "What does it mean for you to be near the cross?" She might say, it is the place of reward.

We find Mary at the beginning of the Gospel of John and at the end of the Gospel of John. We find her in John 2 and in John 19. In John 2, Mary is attending a wedding and is involved in the joys of a feast. In John 19 she is involved in the sorrows of a funeral. In John 2 we find Mary speaking, but in John 19 Mary is silent.

Do you know why she kept quiet? She could not lie. As she stood there by the cross, her silence was testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. If Jesus Christ were not what He claimed to be, Mary could have saved Him.

 Jesus did not ignore her but rewarded her by sharing His beloved disciple with her. She was honored but she is not to be worshipped. Elisabeth did not say to her, "Blessed art thou above women.. But Blessed art thou among women.. V:42.

At the cross, Mary suffered because He died. She suffered because of the way He died-- on a cross numbered with the transgressors. She suffered because of where He died-- in public. But Jesus saw her, and Jesus assured her of His love. He said Woman (never called Her mother) Behold thy son! He was establishing a new relationship. He was going back to heaven and now they would have a new relationship... But He gave her someone to look after her.

The longest will ever probated was made up of four volumes. There was 95,940 words in it! The shortest will on record is recorded in Great Britain, and it has only three words to it: "All for Mother." Jesus did not have any earthly possessions to give to anybody, The soldiers had gambled for his clothes and had taken them away. What could He give Mary? He gave John to Mary. (God will reward all His Children) Most of all those who suffer.... Amen.

IV: A PLACE OF RESPONSIBILITY:

John what does the cross mean to you? A place of responsibility.   John had forsaken Him and fled. All the disciples had done this. The Shepherd had been smitten and the sheep had scattered. But John came back to the cross. That was not the safest place to stand or the easiest place to stand. I have watched people die, but not in that kind of a situation. It took courage and love for John to come back.. But the Lord restored him.. Then John later wrote....If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.. (I John 1:9).

Jesus not only restored John, but He also honored him. He told John you are going to take my place. I will no longer be on earth to watch over My earthly mother, Mary, so you are going to take My place.   You know what... All of us are taking His place... He said in John 20:21-- As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.. We represent Jesus Christ to others. John was to love Mary for Christ, we are to love others for Christ.

Near the Cross.... It is a place of Redemption.. Just come to the cross by faith and trust Him.

It is a place of Rebuke.. All of our pride and selfishness fades away as we stand at the cross.   It is a place of Reward: It is a place of Responsibility.