Scripture

Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother….When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Woman, here is your son.”

~John 19:25-26, NIV

Quote

Suffering can forge deep friendships.

~Ya’akov

 

In reading Calvin Miller’s daily devotion: his thoughts provoked my thoughts and within seconds a flurry of new ideas flashed through my mind. Mary the mother of Jesus was standing at the foot of the cross; so close that Jesus in His agony could see her. Mary refused to let her Son suffer and die alone. I am sure the words of Simeon the prophet were echoing in her mind, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Now Mary knew exactly what Simeon was talking about. As Jesus suffered on the cross, His mother suffered with Him. She did not forsake Him in His hour of greatest need. Wow! What a testimony to motherhood!

But just for a moment, let us suppose that we are there with Mary. We are standing beneath the cross; so close that we can hear Jesus groan as he struggles to get his breath. We can literally hear Him drowning in His on saliva. We can see His precious blood dripping to the dry earth from the old rugged cross. His precious mother groans in deepest agony. She can hardly breath. She can not ease her precious son’s pain and He could not take His hand and wipe the tears from her eyes because they are nailed to the cross. In this agonizing and horrible moment; What are we thinking? Standing right there beneath that cross, what is on our mind? If you will give this some thought, you will see what I mean. We talked about in Sunday school yesterday: we all are obsessed with thinking about ourselves but standing there under the cross; I don’t see how we would be able to think about ourselves. I don’t see how we could think about sex, football, money, fame, fortune or anything else related to this world. I think we would be totally captivated by Jesus’ suffering. What do you think?

What is the moral of the story: Jesus keep me near the cross, be my glory ever. I watched the first half of the Alabama/Texas A&M game at Too Tall’s and then I left and went to my office. I didn’t listen to the radio on the way home either, I was too busy praying, “LORD please get this junk off my mind. I want concentrate on the message tomorrow. I do not want to think about football.”  If I were standing beneath the actual cross, I doubt seriously that I would have to pray such a pathetic prayer. So my new prayer is: “Jesus keep me near the cross.”

One other thought: isn’t it strange how the cross can put everything else in perspective.

Extra

October is PASTOR’S APPRECIATION MONTH and I know how everyone is this area loves to appreciate their pastor. Do something shocking to show your appreciation for your pastor. Give a hundred thousand to the building fund in his honor; that will shock him. I’m being facetious. A little jocularity, thank you very much. Today the POINT is hosting the weekly pastor’s prayer group and I can’t wait. Fried Chicken and the trimmings. Wednesday night at 6:00 at THE POINT, we are having chicken stew and the trimmings. We will eat at the drop of a hat and if you aren’t careful, we will drop the hat.

Genesis Construction is pouring the slab for our fellowship hall Tomorrow. Hallelujah! Can you imagine how much we will eat when we get a fellowship hall?

Wednesday will be a travel day for many of us as we go to Grand Bay to be with Teddy and his family. Pray for traveling mercy.

Running behind already: got to go, have a great week!