Being there for Jesus …

John 19: 25-27

I chose to begin with the song Cross Melody this morning because it is a compilation of several of the greatest hymns on Redemption … from Hallelujah! What a Savior, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, to And Can It Be. The words of our Savior becoming a ‘man of sorrow’ and being condemned for each of us. It is with this imagery of great joy becoming dark doom that we look at our scripture lesson this morning. (Read Scripture)

As we examine John’s text this morning, one will notice that Jesus’ disciples are no where to be found (with the exception of the disciple whom He loved — referring to John). Instead of finding Jesus’ disciples at his feet, we find instead four women who knew Jesus. With this scene we have to ask ourselves if we would stand at the foot of the cross? (Pause)

With these women, we can look at several human examples of redemption. (Pause) One of these is Mary the wife of Clopas of whom we know nothing … so this morning we will examine the other three.

First is Mary, the mother of Jesus (manger scene). Everyone knows her story real well (we looked at her life last December). Mary had learned from the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of the Messiah. She was so excited that we are told that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). She had to have looked forward to the day her son would proclaim to the world that he was the promised Messiah. When this day came, she would finally be justified in the struggles she had in her life … the gossip in Nazareth, the flight into Egypt, the years of hardship after Joseph was gone, even the loneliness of Jesus leaving home to proclaim His message throughout Israel … everything would be alright the day he declared to the world that he was really the King of the Jews, ushering in the Day of the Lord. (Pause) Then the world comes crashing down. Being human, she would probably have wondered if she had been wrong. Can you imagine her asking God “Why this is happening?” and “Is this the way it is supposed to be?” On that day, Mary probably did not understand and she was not alone. But Mary did what she could do that day … She loved! Her presence at the cross that day was the most natural thing in the world. Her son might have been a criminal in the eyes of the law, but Jesus was her son. At the cross that day, Mary showed to the world that eternal love that a mother has for their children. What does Mary tell us … she tells us that if we dare to stand next to the cross, even when times are tough, when life is crumbling around us, when our burdens are too hard to bear, that God will take care of us.

The second of the ladies that day was Salome (left and right). John does not mention her name, but Matthew and Mark do. She is the sister of Mary and the wife of Zebedee (parents of James and John) … yes that makes them Jesus’ cousins. We know little of her except that she was rebuffed by Jesus (Mathew 20). She asked Jesus to place James on one side and John of the other. It is hard to be rough on her … especially if you are a parent. To give you an example, look at our area. We have two teams in the playoffs. Have you ever watched basketball on TV. They often zoom in to see the parents … you can pick them out as the ones screaming and throwing things at refs. Sometimes they are smiling with pride, other times they are chewing out the refs. They were the same ones who on many occasions begged the coach to let their kids play … give them that chance. That was all Salome had done. Jesus rebuffed her selfish ambition, and told her that his way was of the bitter cup. Now we find her at the foot of the cross probably realizing for the first time what Jesus meant that day he scolded her. Her boys had said that they could ‘drink from the same cup,’ but now she sees what that cup was. Jesus cup removed the sins of mankind. It was a cup of war, murder; all the atrocities of human history. She wanted the blessings without the burdens. But on this day, we learn a great deal from her. She had the loving humility to accept this rebuke and love with undiminished love. It also shows that Jesus could rebuke a person in such a way that His love shone through the rebuke.

Finally, there is Mary Magdalene (cross). We only know a little about her life. What we knows tells us much. Jesus had cast seven demons out of her when he met her (Mark 16: 9). She had been entrapped by sin and then one day Jesus appeared. He drove out the demons and for the first time her burden of sin was lifted and she was free to become the person God had created her to be. She now found worth in her life and quickly became a follower of Jesus. Jesus had redeemed her, cleaned her, and saved her. (Pause) Now she is standing at the foot of the cross learning just how much her redemption cost. (Pause) Do you think God just waves a wand or snaps his fingers and we are free. Sadly, it was not that easy. It cost God everything he held dear. It cost the Father his Son. Mary Magdalene’s place at the foot of the cross stands as an eternal testimony to the pure love of God and his willingness to forgive and redeem us.

As we end this season of Lent, we are once again asked if we will continue to stand at the foot of the cross. Will we continue to stand at the cross and be forever changed, or will we do as many did that day and run? (Pause)

In the end, the cross means many things to many people. But ultimately, it means we are free and in God’s eyes, we are redeemed.

Our closing hymn this morning is “He Lives” (Mowrystown — Page 124 and Buford — Page 310).