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\u201cMother, Behold Your Son\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n He said to His mother, \u201cMother, behold your son\u201d<\/em> (John 19:26\u201327).<\/p>\n Greetings in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the name above all names. Let us reflect on these words of life while we are still alive. Scripture tells us:<\/p>\n John 19:25\u201327 (ESV):<\/strong> 1. Christ\u2019s intentional relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n You may ask: why would Jesus create such intimate relationships at the cross? Surely, there were many people around Him\u2014women, disciples, even those He had healed\u2014but His gaze singled out only two: His mother, Mary, and the beloved disciple, John.<\/p>\n Jesus had many followers, yet He entrusted His mother to none of them. John, too, had his own mother, yet Jesus did not ask him to care for her. Instead, He gave John this responsibility. Upon hearing this command, John took her into his home and cared for her faithfully.<\/p>\n This relationship was deeply theological: it demonstrates Christ\u2019s care for human relationships<\/strong> and His provision for the vulnerable. It also shows that spiritual responsibility in the Body of Christ can transcend biological ties. This aligns with Paul\u2019s teaching:<\/p>\n Galatians 6:10 (ESV):<\/strong> \u201cSo then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Here, John becomes Mary\u2019s \u201cson,\u201d and Mary becomes John\u2019s \u201cmother,\u201d illustrating that in Christ, family is defined not only by birth but by love, obedience, and service.<\/p>\n 2. Contemplating Christ enables true Christian love<\/strong><\/p>\n Relationships like these\u2014caring for someone who is not your mother, calling someone \u201cson\u201d who is not your child\u2014do not happen naturally. They come only from contemplating Christ.<\/p>\n As the Church, we cannot truly love one another as brothers and sisters unless our eyes are fixed on the crucified Christ. If we view Christ merely as a provider of blessings or miracles, we miss the depth of Christian love. Attending church only for convenience, business, or physical healing leaves gatherings empty.<\/p>\n Consider the crowds who followed Jesus for healing (Mark 3:7\u201310 NIV). They were in the thousands, yet few truly knew one another. Similarly today, we may gather in large numbers, but without unity, love, and fellowship<\/strong>, God\u2019s presence cannot manifest fully.<\/p>\n John 13:34\u201335 (ESV):<\/strong> Christ is grieved when we claim to be Christians yet harbor resentment, jealousy, or selfishness\u2014even within the same church. This shows that we have not truly reached Golgotha, where Christ teaches His disciples the essence of sacrificial love.<\/p>\n 3. Spiritual insight through Mary and John<\/strong><\/p>\n The relationship Jesus formed between Mary and John was not accidental. Mary was no longer alone after losing her son; she now had someone to care for her as Jesus Himself would. John, in turn, received unique insight into Jesus\u2019 life through Mary, including the hidden years of His upbringing (Luke 2:51\u201352). The other disciples, who knew Jesus for only three and a half years, could not have understood these mysteries.<\/p>\n Mary was a woman who treasured Jesus\u2019 words in her heart, pondering them deeply (Luke 2:19 NIV). Through her, John came to understand Christ\u2019s innermost life\u2014knowledge that later enabled him to receive the visions of Revelation on Patmos (Revelation 1:9\u201311).<\/p>\n This shows a profound theological truth: God ordains relationships to deepen our understanding of Christ and to build the Church<\/strong>. Spiritual insight and discipleship often come through faithful, God-centered relationships.<\/p>\n 4. Living out Christlike love in the Church today<\/strong><\/p>\n Likewise, in our own lives, we may feel broken or hopeless. Yet Christ places loving brothers and sisters around us to encourage, comfort, and guide us. Often, these people help us understand Christ more deeply than anyone else\u2014but this blessing comes only as we keep our eyes on Him who was crucified.<\/p>\n Contemplating Christ\u2019s suffering at the cross\u2014how He died for us, unworthy as we are (Romans 5:6\u20138 NIV)\u2014moves us to live sacrificially for others each day. It reminds us that true Christian love is active, sacrificial, and Christ-centered<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Therefore, know this: in your church, Christ watches your unity and love<\/strong> for fellow believers. Let Him see your hearts, and He will be glorified through your fellowship.<\/p>\n May the Lord bless you abundantly.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother\u2019s 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, \u2018Woman, behold your son!\u2019 Then He said to the disciple, \u2018Behold your mother!\u2019 And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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