Moms and Sons

It has been hard saying goodbye to my Mom, but the Lord led me to the greatest Mother - Son stories ever told. It has brought me hope and comfort. Imagine this; while Jesus was on the cross, bearing the sins of the world, what are his final words about human relationships? They are words of caring for his Mom, and the disciple whom He loved. There is a special bond between a Mom and her sons and certainly what an incredible bond between the woman who bore the Savior and the Savior Himself.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  – John 19:25-27

 
Jesus is thinking of His Mom, making sure she has a son to love (John). And he wants to make sure there is a son to take care of his Mom. Verses 26-27 tell us that while Jesus was suffering on the cross, he was concerned about his mother and his youngest disciple. Both had depended on Jesus so much, his death was a terrible blow to them. So, what did Jesus do? He gave them each other for their mutual comfort. The love they had for Him could now be lavished on each other to help them through their grief.

He still does that today through his Church. Jesus was founding the family of God, whose members are there for each other in times of grief and so much more. Mary and John were among the first ones in it. You see, a new relationship was made possible when Jesus died. It is stronger and more lasting than any earthly relationships we know here. From that moment on, Mary was no longer the mother of Jesus. She became his sister! John was no longer his cousin and his youngest disciple; he became a brother of Jesus and a joint-heir to the Kingdom of God. They along with millions of others would be in the new family of God.

Jesus finished everything that was needed to belong to the family of God. My Mom is also my sister in Christ, and is now with Jesus in heaven. Someday, I will join her and many other “family” members. That gives me hope, and I pray it does you as well. “All who call on the Lord shall be saved”. Amen?