Jesus is Crucified Part 4 Yes Jesus Loves You

John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 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.” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  
 
DOES the simple, powerful song come to mind: “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me…”
    Oh, the Savior is dying in pain we can’t imagine, a thirst beyond understanding. How is he even alive? Yet Jesus’ love comes down from the cross to Mary, the one who bore his human body. With Mary is Salome (Believed to be Mary’s sister.). There is also Mary the wife of Clopas (and otherwise described as the mother of James the Younger and Joses), Mary Magdalene and the disciple John.
    Do you remember what the angel Gabriel said to Mary when he announced she would birth the Messiah? Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Favor is God’s love and mercy. Favor is blessing and salvation. Where was God’s favor at that moment?
    Mary may have been remembering, though, a  prophecy Simeon spoke at Jesus’ circumcision: Luke 2:34 “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Was it God’s favor that a spiritual sword was piercing Mary’s soul? Surely no one who loved Jesus suffered more than Mary.
    Then Jesus offered one last earthly favor to Mary. To refer to John and to tell Mary “Here is your son.” Jesus assures Mary John will look after her needs.
    Jesus is the oldest son. He had compassion for his mother’s needs and would have cared for her. But now he is dying. His unbelieving, perhaps fearful, brothers are gone. Only John of the 12 – now 11 – disciples stood close to the cross sorrowfully watching his beloved Messiah die. Four people who loved Jesus very much stood close to the cross to sorrowfully suffer the agony with their son, healer, Teacher and Master.
    When you go near the cross you will see the Savior’s blood and sweat pour from his body. You will watch him struggle to breathe and strain to speak. You will hear him offer his love to you. Then you will hear him love the Jews, “Father forgive them.” (Luke 23:34). You hear him assure the faithful criminal, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
    Yes, Jesus loves you even as the world rebels against him and celebrates his death. God’s love is greater than the rebellious heart. Remember Israel’s rebellion during the exodus journey: How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved him in the wasteland! Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. (Psalms 78:40-41)  Yet the LORD God kept his promise, and they lived in the land he had prepared for them.
    The Jews continued to reject his love. Yet the LORD kept his promise to send Jesus to the cross to prepare you for his eternal Promised Home: John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  
   
Resurrection Truth: 1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.