Contemplative Bible Reading

John 19:25-27 (New Living Translation)

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Jesus, the Son of God, is on the cross. He is about to perform the greatest miracle of all time. This is a big spiritual concept—one that we struggle to grasp.

In the middle of this, Jesus sees His mother. Jesus is the oldest son. He is responsible—in the culture of the time—for providing for his mother in her old age. He knows He will die and will not fulfill his human and cultural duties.

Jesus sees another man. “Please,” says Jesus, “you take my mother as your mother. You provide for her in her old age. I can’t.”

Jesus takes on the full human and cultural responsibilities of a man, of a human.

Christianity requires faith in Jesus, i.e., the ability to believe in a grand concept for which we have no earthly, physical proof. And Christianity requires us to live in our human and cultural world. We pay taxes; we drive in our lane, and we don’t litter. And we show others that Jesus has made us different.

Sometimes I fail to fulfill the requirements of Christianity. I’m tired. I would rather take a nap than do lots of other things. Jesus provides a way. Thank you Jesus for your saving grace.