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 19:26-27

As presented on *The Lutheran Hour® by Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, March 18, 1973.

Jesus promised His mother, as He does all of us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Here in these last moments, He is showing again how really human He is.

I have watched families say good-bye to a son in uniform, leaving to resume his station, maybe somewhere halfway across the world. The father shakes hands with his boy and impulsively embraces him. The boy is moved and tries not to show it too much. Sister kisses him and then starts to cry openly. The younger brother holds out his hand, trying to pass off this solemn moment with a light remark. The mother’s pain is etched in her face and forms dark pools in her eyes. After the boy is gone, one sees the family going down the long corridor in the airport, the women clutching each other, the younger brother trying to act as if nothing has happened, and the father walking beside them, alone with his thoughts. Taking leave from family and friends would not be so hard if it were not for the fact that each parting is a reminder of another from which there is no returning. In the back of our minds is the possibility: we may never see these people again.

Here at the cross of Christ, we come face-to-face with love as it was always meant to be. There is courage to take the unbearable, hope to overcome the hopelessness, and joy to meet the inevitability of death itself. There is faith and in that faith victory.

Lord God, thank You for being with my loved ones when we are apart. Give us faith in Jesus so we will all be with You on the last day. Amen.

Taken from A Message of Hope: Proclaiming the Cross (selections from messages broadcast on *The Lutheran Hour, celebrating 75 years of proclaiming the promise).

Copyright © 2006 by Lutheran Hour Ministries

*The Lutheran Hour is the longest-running Christian radio broadcast in the world. It is a production of Lutheran Hour Ministries. For more information, visit www.lutheranhour.org.

Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 30-31    Luke 8:1-25

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