We Call him Saviour part 5 Leaving is loving

04/10/2019

We call him Savior lesson 5: Leaving is loving

Main text: John 19:26-27

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. ([KJV])

The Gospel is full of challenges that test our faith and buck against human nature.

It is better to give than receive.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. ([KJV])

Whosoever wants to save his life will lose it.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. ([KJV])

Only in his hometown and his own house is a prophet without honor.

Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. ([KJV])

But no statement is as confusing or frightening as the one in Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. ([KJV])

The part about leaving land and fields I can understand. It is the other part that causes us to cringe. It's the part about leaving mom and dad, saying goodbye to brothers and sisters, placing a farewell kiss on a son or daughter's head. ( There is another passage of scripture that is based on this Luke 14:26 (note: the word used is hate, it's meaning is to give up or leave)

It is easy to parallel discipleship with poverty or peer mocking and public scoffers but leaving my family? Can sacrifice get any more sacrificial than that?

Jesus did that twice. First he left Heaven to be born of the virgin Mary. The Scriptures gives us many references

Luke 1:31-35 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. ([KJV])

(see John 1-14) John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ([KJV])

John 7:28-29 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. ([KJV])

John 12:49-50 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. ([KJV])

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ([KJV])

Then our passage of scripture this evening, Jesus left his earthly family.

John 19:26-27

As we picture this scene around the cross, and the words come from our Lord's mouth "Woman behold your son". As he looked toward his disciple John, He was letting her know that John would take care of her.

Also his wording Woman, instead of mother helped ease the pain. The worst thing she could have heard coming from that cross was, Mother, Mommy or mom!

We pull up the picture screen and see that Mary is older now. The hair at her temples is gray. Wrinkles have replaced her youthful skin. Her hands are calloused. She has raised a houseful of children. And now she beholds the crucifixion of her firstborn.

One wonders what memories she conjures up as she witnesses his torture. The long ride to Bethlehem, perhaps. A baby's bed made from cow's hay. Fugitives in Egypt. Playing at His home in Nazareth. Panic in Jerusalem, " I thought he was with you". Carpentry lessons. Dinner table laughter. Did her mind pull up the words spoken to her some thirty years ago in the temple Luke 2:34-35 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. ([KJV])

Then the morning Jesus came in from the shop early, his eyes firmer, his voice more direct. Jesus had heard the news, "John is preaching in the desert." Her son took of his nail apron, dusted off his hands, and with one last look said goodbye to his mother. They both knew it would never be the same again. In that last look they shared a secret, the full extent of which was too painful to say aloud.

Mary learned from that day the heartache that would come from saying goodbye. From then on she was to love her son from a distance; on the edge of the crowd, ouside of a packed house, on the shore of the sea. Maybe she was there when he made the the statement in Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. ([KJV])

Mary was not the first one to be called to say goodbye to loved ones for sake of the kingdom. Joseph was called to be an orphan in Egypt. Jonah was called to be a foreigner in Nineveh. Hannah sent her firstborn son away to serve in the temple. Daniel was sent from Jerusalem to Babylon. Nehemiah was sent from Susa to Jerusalem. Abraham was sent to sacrifice his own son. Paul had to say goodbye to his heritage. The bible is bound together with goodbye trails and stained with farewell tears.

In fact it seems that goodbye is a word all too prevalent in the Christian's vocabulary. Missionaries know it well. Those who send them know it too. The doctor who leaves the city to work in the jungle hospital has said it. So has the Bible translator who lives far from home. Those who feed the hungry, those who teach the lost, those who help the poor all know the word goodbye.

Airports, Luggage, embraces, taillights. "Wave to grandma," tears, bus terminal, ship docks. "Goodbye daddy," tight throats, ticket counters. Misty eyes, "write me!"

"Woman behold they son, son behold thy mother, it is finished!"

Question: What kind of God would put people through such agony? What kind of God will give you families and then ask you to leave them? What kind of God would give you friends and then ask you to say goodbye?

Answer: A God who knows that the deepest love is built not on passion and romance but on a common mission and sacrifice.

Answer : A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that eternity is so close that any "Goodbye" is in reality "See you tomorrow."

Answer: A God who did it himself.

"Woman, behold your son", John fastened his arm around Mary a little tighter. Jesus was asking him to be the son a mother needs in his absence.

Jesus looked at Mary. His ache was from a pain far greater than that of the nails and thorns. In their silent glance they again shared a secret. And Jesus said Goodbye.

Oh what a Savior!