It’s been almost a year since my siblings and I assisted our mother in moving to an assisted living facility. Although she is able to manage on her own for the most part, there were enough indicators of declining health that my mother recognized that she could use some help. Fortunately, the decision was made collectively while our mother was able to understand the reasons for the move. There are many ways to care for aging parents, varying from cultures or traditions. In this instance, having our mother move into an assisted living facility was honoring her.
The crucifixion story recorded in the gospel of John is full of human elements. The story that jumped out at me this past Easter was how Jesus took a moment while on the cross to attend to his earthly mother. Think about what he was enduring at that moment, both physically and spiritually, yet his attention was drawn to his mother. It’s remarkable, and speaks to Jesus’ deep love for her. The passage raises questions about other details, such as, was Mary a widow by this point? What about Jesus’ brothers? Where were they? But that takes the focus off of the love he expressed.
We can claim that same degree of love and compassion from God the Father and Jesus the Son by clinging to the profound expression of love demonstrated in Jesus’ care for his mother. But, more importantly, demonstrated in his willingness to die for the sins of humanity. As John writes in 1 John 3:a, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Thank you, Jesus, for setting the perfect example of love and compassion, so that we too can care for others deeply. “While we were still sinners, [You] died for us.” I can never thank you enough.
Throughout This Day: Listen to the song, God So Loved, by artists We The Kingdom and celebrate the freedom in Christ you now enjoy.