Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)
My husband and I made our wills some time ago, and one of the questions we had to consider was what would become of our son if we were to die at the same time. Who would take care of him? Who would love him and be there for him?
Jesus faced the same sort of question about the people He loved. There was His mother, Mary, who believed in Him and followed Him, even to Jerusalem and the shadow of His cross. She couldn't be left alone with that grief—or sent back to live with Jesus' hostile brothers. Mary needed someone who would care for her and comfort her, not say "I told you so" or worse. And so Jesus entrusted her to His disciple John. John would take her into his own home and care for her as for his own mother.
This was good for John, as well. Jesus knew that Mary would love John as her own son—would comfort him, pray with him, and help him through the devastation of Jesus' death. And so Jesus entrusted them to one another.
Jesus could do this with confidence because He entrusted all of His people, whether living or yet unborn, to God the Father. Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand" (John 10:29) If you trust in Jesus who died and rose again to set you free from evil, then you are in the Father's hand, and the Holy Spirit is watching over you. What safer place could you be?
THE PRAYER: Lord, thank You for entrusting me and all Your people to the Father. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* When have you trusted something valuable to the care of a friend or family member?
* What is the most valuable thing anybody has ever trusted you with?
* Whom is God entrusting to you, to care for and help meet their needs?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Joshua 7-9 Luke 9:37-62
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