Facing Jesus #14 - Mary, the Mother of Jesus

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Matthew Mark Luke John
Words of Jesus are underlined

 (This section intended to be used for Good Friday Worship)

We can assume that Mary would have been following Jesus along what has been called the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of Sorrows,” and that she would be weeping with the other women of Jerusalem.  Here the prophecy of Simeon is fulfilled:  “A sword will pierce your own soul.” 

How did Mary face her Son in these moments?  She had treasured up all the extraordinary events of His birth in her heart.  She was the only mother to ever have the perfect Son – Who even made sure to provide for her in the midst of His suffering and death on the cross.  How did she face it all? 

How do you?  When you look at a cross, do you see what happened on it – for you!?  Will you weep for your sin that caused it and turn away from it to bear your cross and follow Him?

The Shepherds and the Angels

Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.

Infant Jesus at the Temple

Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed— and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 

The Childhood of Jesus

His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Jesus is Led Away to Be Crucified

A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

(Luke 2:19, 34–35, 51; Luke 23:27–31; John 19:25–27 CSB17)

Mary “treasured up” the supernatural things surrounding the birth of Jesus.  And she “meditated on them.”  How often do you take the time to look back on the difference Jesus has made in your life?  Why not jot a few down and spend time thanking and praising God for those times?

Is there any sword that would “pierce your soul” worse than watching your son be tortured and killed? 

How important was it for Jesus to give Mary another son and give John another mother? 

How important is it for you and your church to provide comfort to the grieving?