John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.… We have here a revelation in love of — I. MORAL HEROISM — the presence of the woman and John. Scarcely could they have placed themselves in a more perilous position. Love is the soul of courage. There is no power for magnanimous endurance and fearless achievements equal to womanly affection. Such love you can trust. It clings to its object as ivy to the castle: holds on to it midst the scorchings of summer and the blastings of winter; survives even the ruin of its object, and spreads a beauty over its grave. II. PARENTAL DISTRESS. 1. What must have been the feelings of Mary. Now was fulfilled the prophecy, "a sword shall pierce thy soul also." There are no trials more poignant than those of a mother in the death throes of her child. Rachels, the world over, weep for their children and refuse to be comforted. 2. But there are circumstances which sometimes mitigate the distress when death occurs in unconscious infancy, or when a child is one of a large number, or when death occurs in maturity among friends Mary's Son was in the prime of life, and died among malignant foes, and at their hands: and moreover was perhaps her only Son, and she probably a widow. III. FILIAL COMPASSION. "Woman, behold thy Son" — a gleam of unearthly sunshine. 1. No sufferings, however great, can quench love. Christ's sufferings surpassed all conception, yet they did not drown the memory of His mother. He seemed to forget His agonies m her tears. Children learn a lesson from this l Plead no personal inconvenience as a reason for neglecting your parents. 2. No engagements, however vast, can justify the neglect of domestic duties. How vast were Christ's engagements! Here was a crisis in the history of the universe — yet Christ attended to the needs of His aged mother. Let none plead — statesmen, ministers, or reformers — their engagements as a justification for neglecting home duties. 3. No legacy, however precious, is equal to the Legacy of Love. Christ could have made His mother the mistress of an empire; but He bequeathed her what was better — the affection of a noble soul. What is equal to this? 4. No argument, however plausible, can justify us in regarding Mary as an object of worship. The mothers of great men are to be held in high veneration. Albeit, ought we to regard this poor desolate woman whom Jesus commended to the care of John as Queen of Heaven I IV. CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE. "From that hour," &c. Tradition says that John never forsook his trust, and remained in Palestine till the mother of his Lord was dead. His obedience was prompt and full. There are only three admissible reasons supposable for not attending at once and fully to Christ's commands. 1. If the command is inconsistent with the eternal principles of right. 2. If the difficulties are such that only time can remove them. 3. If there is ground to suppose that help not now obtainable will be granted in the future. Such reasons, though admissible, do not exist, and therefore, like John, we should at once obey. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. |
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