"Christ on the Cross between Mary and St. John", c 1512 by Albrecht Altdorfer.
This is my fifth post, joining fellow Christian bloggers in reading Christian Classics. In this series we are reading Dr. A.W. Pink's, "The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross".
John 19:25-27, "Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home."
While Jesus hung on the cross we are witness, through the sacred text of the scripture, to one of the most pivotal moments in all of creation. First Christ interacts with His Father, then with the thieves on the cross, and now with His mother and the beloved John.
Standing by the cross of Jesus was His mother. Imagine her pain. From Pink:
"What sorrow it must have caused her when, because there was no room in the inn, she had to lay her newly born babe in the manger! What anguish must have been hers when she learned of Herod's purpose to destroy her infant's life! What trouble was given her when she was forced on His account to flee into a foreign country and sojourn for several years in the land of Egypt! What piercings of the soul must have been hers when she saw her son despised and rejected of men! What grief must have wrung her heart as she beheld Him hated and persecuted by His own nation! And who can estimate what she passed through as she stood there at the Cross? If Christ was the Man of Sorrows, was she not the woman of sorrows? "There stood by the cross of Jesus...His Mother"
Chapter three, for my part, was not the feast of deep theology as the first two, but it was certainly a chapter full of drama, human suffering and lessons for us to observe.
Please read on...
Here we see the fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy.
When Jesus was a child, his parents brought Him to the temple to perform things which were customary in Jewish life at the time. In the temple was a man named Simeon, who was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw the Lord's Messiah. When Simeon saw the Jesus child he raised him in his arms and proclaimed:
"Now, Master,
You can dismiss Your slave in peace,
according to Your word.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation.
You have prepared [it]
in the presence of all the peoples--
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to Your people in Israel"
(Luke 2:29-32)Simeon then turned to Mary, the mother of Jesus and told her:
"Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed---and a sword will pierce your own soul---that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
What incredible joy to birth the Saviour of the world and what incredible pain to see Him die in such a way. Imagine the heart of this mother pierced at the sight.
Here we see the perfect man setting an example for children to honor their parents.
Pink tell us that Christ honored the words that He engraved upon the two tablets on Mount Sinai, "Honor your father and mother". Because little is mentioned regarding the Christ's father Joseph, it is tradition that somewhere in His early days that Joseph has died leaving Mary a widow. No doubt our Lord took great care of His mother during these times. No doubt a comfort to Mary, Jesus instructs John, from the cross, to care for Mary.
Pink also points out that Jesus never calls Mary his mother (Woman, behold your son). Pink suggests that this intentional "coldness" is purposed to make us understand that He, although man, is also God Incarnate. Certainly a certain amount of respect and distance is due. Pink further suggests that this was also to serve as a discouragement to idol worship. In Pink's estimation, mankind would be prone to worship or idolize Mary and this distance was also designed to discourage that sinful behavior.
Here we see that John had returned to the Saviour's side.
Pink points out that it is unbelievable that in the garden, during Christ's difficult time, the disciples were sleeping rather than keeping "watch". But horror of horror's, at the time of Christ's trial, flogging, long walk at Golgotha and His ultimate crucifixion they had all scurried in shame and fear. All of them!
In spite of this we see the beloved apostle John back at the cross. What an example for us.
Pink also rightly points out that the betrayal, once they saw the resurrected Christ created a "never again" attitude in all of the disciples and gave them incredible courage even unto death.
Here we discover an illustration of Christ's prudence.
Pink suggests that no one was better equipped to take care of and love Mary (in her widowhood) than His beloved apostle John. God has plans for the apostle years later on the island of Patmos. Pink declares that there was no better training for John then to be in the constant presence of and provide the care for this woman who had spent 33 intimate years with the Christ.
Here we see that spiritual relationships must not ignore the responsibilities of nature.
Pink wants us to know that even though Christ was "engaged in the most momentous and the most stupendous undertaking that this earth has or ever will witness...by the point of offering satisfaction to the outraged justice of God", that He still took care of His "natural responsibilities".
Christ was not so heavenly minded that He was no earthly good!
Here we see universal need exemplified.
From Pink: "How different is the Mary of Scripture from the Mary of superstition! She was no proud Madonna but, like each of us, a member of a fallen race, a sinner both by nature and practice. The Word of God presents not the mother of Jesus as the queen of angels decked with diadem but as one who herself rejoiced in a Saviour. It is true she is "blessed among [not above] women," and that by virtue of the high honor of being the mother of the Redeemer; yet was she human, a real member of our fallen race, a sinner needing a Saviour."
I couldn't say it any better or agree any more. Truly an example for us all.
We see the marvelous blending of Christ's perfections.
I must quote Pink's eloquent words here in conclusion:
"This is one of the greatest wonders of His person---the blending of the most perfect human affection with His divine glory. The very Gospel that most of all shows Him to be God is here careful to prove He was man---the Word made flesh. Engaged as He was in a divine transaction, making atonement for all the sins of all His people, grappling with the powers of darkness, yet amid it all, He has still the same human tenderness, which shows the perfection for the man Jesus Christ.
This care for His mother in His dying hour was characteristic of all His conduct. Everything was natural and perfect. The unstudied simplicity about Him is most marked. There was nothing pompous or ostentatious. Many of His mightiest works were done on the highway, in the cottage, or among a little group of sufferers. Many of His words, which today are still unfathomable and exhaustless in their wealth of meaning, were uttered almost casually as He walked with a few friends. So it was on the Cross. He was performing the mightiest work of all history; He was engaged in doing that which in comparison makes the creating of a world fade into utter insignificance, yet He forgets not to make provision for His mother---much as He might have done had they been together in the home at Nazareth. Rightly was it said of old, "His name shall be called Wonderful" Wonderful He was in all that He did. Wonderful He was in every relationship that He sustained. Wonderful He was in His person and wonderful He was in His work. Wonderful was He in life, and wonderful was He in death. Let us wonder and adore."
Amen!
I am greatly enjoying Pinks depth of perspective. I am also an admirer of his gift for prose. From the first chapter Dr. A.W. Pink has drawn me in and held me captive to his understandings.
So far, a wonderful read!
