Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Wednesday’s thoughts

It’s hard for me to make the jump that some Biblical scholars and preachers want to make in suggesting that when Jesus spoke to his mother and to his friend John Mark, saying, “Behold your mother” and “Behold your son” those words were designed to address the church as a symbol of Mary and John Mark. The suggestion that Jesus had created a new kind of family — the church, seems out of line with so much of what I have come to believe about Jesus and the importance he put on relationships. I think he was talking about his mother and I think he was concerned about her.

The other thing about this text that seems to fit for me is the idea that Jesus was pointing to his mother. At the time of his death on the cross he was pointing to his mother. He seemed to be saying, “Look, there is my mother.” I think he was not saying to John Mark, “Take care of my mother.” I think he was saying, “Thank you mother for being with me.”

This is one of the most tender and moving statements in the Bible. It calls for us to think about the people in our lives who have been with us in our darkest hour, and in our brightest hour. Mary was present to Jesus. She was important to him. This is one of the few places in the Bible where Jesus is reported to have claimed family. He says for any to hear, that he is the son of Mary. That is important.

There is a sense of pride and appreciation in these words.

What do these words evoke? Do they bring  forward the tenderness of relationship between Jesus and his mother, and does that cause us to think about those kinds of relationships with the important people in our lives? If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. Click on the blank space and the email address will appear.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

Posted by Charles at 19:06:09 | Permalink | No Comments »