Jump Start # 1161

John 19:26 “When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

  Recently I met with someone to plan out their funeral. Typically, when I meet with a family, someone has already died, and we map out what is going to happen over the next few days. It’s generally a sad meeting with many tears. This wasn’t the case. The person I met with was alive and well and hoping to live another dozen years. She just wanted things done ahead of time. Without the grief of death hovering over us, it was an occasion of laughter and light exchange. We talked about what songs she wanted and some insights into her life. When she left, I put the notes into a file so I would know where they are when the time comes. She had planned things out. I have heard of people pre-planning funerals, but that generally involves picking out a funeral home, cemetery plots and those kind of things. She was more interested in the spiritual service and one final attempt to teach some in her family.

She’s done more than I have. Two of my best friends are preachers. I mentioned to one a while back that I wanted the two of them to do my funeral. He said, ok, but then said that he wanted me to do his funeral. Not sure how that will work out.

Our verse today comes from the Cross. It is one of the seven statements Jesus makes. These statements reflect His heart. He asks for forgiveness for His crucifiers. He prays. He hurts. Our verse shows Jesus’ concern for His mother. It was the obligation of the eldest son to take care of the mother. Joseph we believe  had passed away. He is not referred to as Jesus begins His ministry. He is never found in the crowd. Nothing is said what happened to him. It is assumed that he died. So the role of taking care of Mary falls to Jesus. She follows Jesus and is mentioned several times in the gospels. Now, with Jesus’ dying the responsibility of Mary’s care must be directed to someone else. Our passage mentions “the disciple whom He loved,” which most believe to be John. Mary was now under the care of John. Mary was given to someone that Jesus knew, loved and trusted. Mary knew John. As she traveled with Jesus, she would have known him as well.

Interesting that there were others in the family. The gospels name Mary’s other children. Why not the next oldest son? Why give Mary to John’s care?

Some of the family did not believe in Jesus early on. They wanted to take Jesus home. There is no account of others in the family traveling with Jesus. There is no indication that others in the family were at the cross.  Mary was a believer. This small band of disciples would face enormous growth and then intense persecution in the next few years. John was the one. He was a chosen apostle. He was loyal. He was trusted. He loved the Lord and would love the Lord’s mother. Mary was given to John. It is interesting that history tells us that John was the last apostle to die. It is believed that he alone died of old age, unlike the others, who were tortured and executed. Mary was given to John.

Now some lessons:

1. The Bible teaches that it is appointed unto man to die. This is the path that we all travel, righteous and unrighteous. Strong faith and solid Biblical teaching drives away the fears associated with death. This subject ought to be talked about, not avoided. The “out of sight, out of mind,” mentality is naïve. Living as if there is always another day will catch up with us quickly and we will realize that we are running out of days. The subject of death does not have to be gloom and doom. It can be filled with hope as one walking by faith, longs to see the Lord. In a class recently I asked, “What would it be like to be in Heaven?” I like that question. I like to think about that question. We began with what would NOT be there. No death. No sorrow. No night. No tears. No pain. No sin. No devil. But then we switched to what WOULD be there. God. We get to see God’s face. Those thoughts, those answers, filled our hearts and warmed our souls. Won’t it be wonderful there is more than a nice hymn, it is a true expression of hope among God’s people.

So we ought to be able to talk about our death. You ought to tell the family where things are, such as important papers, lock box keys and so forth. Are you leaving your family taken care of or will it be a mess? Jesus took care of His mother. Shouldn’t we plan to do the same for those we love? There are some legal things that can be done. There are some financial things that can be done. There are some spiritual things that can be done. Help your family out.

2. Leave spiritual footprints that your family can follow. Live in such a way that they see what is important to you. Show them the way of God. Your example, even after you are gone, speaks loudly. My mom has been gone for 19 years, I can still hear her telling me when I drive, “Get in the lane you want and stay there.” She said that a lot. She didn’t like weaving in and out of lanes. I don’t know why that stuck with me, but it has. All these years later, I see her saying that. My kids will remember things I have said. They will remember things after I am gone. What have I stressed. What was important. What footprints have I left them. Was I a complainer? Was church a bother or a blessing? Did I live my faith? Your family knows. They will remember. I remember my grandmother, now we are reaching back forty some years, humming spiritual songs as she cleaned the house. That stuck with me. Everyday living leaves impressions, footprints and memories. Work hard on leaving right impressions. I expect you have some things you remember from years ago. They stuck with you. The people may be gone, but those images remain. The same will be true of us.

3. Live with a plan. This is the only way we are going to get out of this place successfully. Without a plan, we float about like a butterfly, going here and there, chasing this and that. I don’t necessarily mean a funeral plan, that’s fine if you want to do that, but a plan on how you expect to face God. The Bible is God’s way. It works. Staying with that will get us through successfully. Like anything in life, it’s easy to start something. Staying with it is the hard part. Stay with God. Be faithful in your heart and in your behavior. Become God’s child and walk with Him all your days. Living this way builds confidence and removes doubts. You know. You know because God promised. You know because it’s spelled out in the Bible. This is how we ought to live. How terrible it is to live with no exit plan. We won’t be here long. We need to know the plan. Every flight I’ve been on, instructions have been given about how to exist in case of an emergency. Public buildings all display exit signs. They point the way out. We need to know the way out of this world. There is only one safe way, and that’s God’s way.

I wonder if Mary was relieved to know that John would take care of her? I wonder if Jesus had already talked to John about this privately? I wonder if John realized what great confidence Jesus had in him? I wonder if we realize the great confidence Jesus has in us? He has put the future of the kingdom into our hands. He trusts us and loves us. Great honor. Great privilege. Great responsibility.

Roger