Intimacy

 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.19.27.ESV

Jesus's final words on the cross are deeply profound, such as 'it is finished/accomplished', referring to the salvation He won for us when He was crucified. This final word in today's verse is deeply personal and human, but no less profound than some of His more famous statements. Jesus wasn't so much thinking of Himself on the cross as others.

From 'Father forgive them' to this verse, Jesus was thinking of others. He thought of His natural mother Mary, likely widowed and shortly to be bereaved of Him. He asked His beloved friend John to adopt her as his mother.

John obeyed Jesus's final charge, and took Mary into his home as his mother. Jesus created a new family in His body and blood. We're united by faith in Him and His sacrifice on our behalf.

Final words are revealing. An Italian who was beheaded by Islamists in Iraq stood up from kneeling and said, 'now you will see how an Italian dies'. Jesus wasn't proudly defiant, but intimately concerned for His loved ones.

'Almighty Father God, thank You for Your intimate concern for the likes of us. We're indebted to You for giving Your beloved Son for us and ask that You would help us live for Him, in His name, amen'

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