The Last Words of Jesus: Seven Sayings from the Cross (The Word of Relationship)

Before he died, Jesus made seven statements from the cross. During the weeks leading up to Easter, we’ll look at what Jesus said and how we might apply these words to our lives. Below is a list of the six topics based on seven passages from the Gospels of Mark, Luke and John.

• February 18 – The Word of Forgiveness (Luke 23:34)
• February 25 – The Word of Salvation (Luke 23:43)
• March 3 – The Word of Relationship (John 19:26-27)
• March 10 – The Words of Humanity (Mark 15:34 & John 19:28)
• March 17 – The Word of Triumph (John 19:30)
• March 24 – The Word of Reunion (Luke 23:46)

On Sunday, we considered the words of relationship offered by Jesus in John 19:26-27:

When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home. ” [John 19:26-27, CEV]

A recording and the text of the sermon is below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

I’ve got to tell you, the beginning of last week was pretty good around the Rudiger house, at least it was for me. And even though I wish I could say the reason was spiritual and holy, it actually wasn’t. You see, a week ago last Thursday, my family was together again, you know, sort of the way it used to be. It was all because Maggie was able to come home from college for a few days. And even though we didn’t do all that much as a group, I mean, both Debbie and I were working and Maggie was scheduled to take two of her Praxis exams, and as some of y’all know, Coco has a part-time job here at the church, it just felt right when the four of us were together, at the same place, at the same time. And I’ve got to tell you, whenever that happens, I can’t help but to remember just how important these relationships are.

And you know, that’s really what we’re going to be focusing on this morning, and I’m talking about the kind of relationships suggested by something else Jesus Christ said from the cross. I mean, we’ve already talked about the forgiveness we can hear when “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they’re doing.’” [Luke 23:34a, CEV] And then we considered just how important it was to everybody who values salvation, “when Jesus replied [to that faithful criminal], ‘I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.’” [Luke 23:43, CEV] Now that’s what we’ve done over the last couple of weeks. And this morning, we’re going to look at something else Jesus said after he’d been lifted up on the cross, this time as described in the Gospel of John. This was what the Evangelist wrote:

Jesus' mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home. [John 19:25-27, CEV]

Now that’s what happened. And I’ll tell you, when he spoke to both Mary and his favorite disciple, Jesus was doing a whole lot more than just making living arrangements for his mother. You see, during his crucifixion, he was reshaping and redefining the relationship between Mary and the disciple whom he loved. In fact, in a broader sense, he was actually creating something that hadn’t really existed before; he was putting together a new family. Now that’s what I think his words were all about.

And I’ll tell you, I believe they’re just as relevant for us today as they were almost two thousand years ago. And so, with that in mind, we’re going to spend a little time talking about the new family that Jesus was creating from the cross, and right now I’m talking about the family of God, in other words, the Body of Christ. You see, we’re going to take this relationship Jesus talked about and we’re going to consider three things this new kind of family can offer us as we try to follow Jesus Christ and to apply both his words and his actions to our daily lives. Now that’s the plan.

But before we move ahead with this, there are a few things I feel the need to mention first. For example, we’re talking about a perfect family here, something that I don’t think is possible in the real world. I mean, growing up, I think my family was pretty good, in fact, probably better than most. Still, it fell short of perfection. And if you have any doubt about that, man, just ask my sister. And you know, I think that applies to our new family as well, you know, the one we call the church. And so, when I suggest some of things our new familial relationships might offer us, well, sometimes it may represent more of a challenge than a fulfillment. And as to those three things that the family of God can offer us, I don’t want y’all to think that I’m giving some kind of exhaustive list, as though, we can receive nothing else from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Still, I do believe these are three benefits that the body of Christ was established to provide for it’s members, you know, for us.

For instance, I believe the family of God can offer unity, and I’m talking about a sense of harmony and oneness that’s greater than the brothers and sisters themselves. Now, for me, that’s the first thing we can find within our church family. As a matter of fact, I believe we can actually see this very thing in a couple of passages in scripture. I mean, just listen to what John wrote in his first letter: 

Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don't know who we are. My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy. [1 John 3:1-3, CEV]

Now that’s what John wrote, and according to the Apostle Paul:

God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.

I am sure what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. [Romans 8:15-19, CEV]

You see, in this new family, there’s only one head of the household, only one lord of the manor, only one king of the hill. I mean, although there may be all kinds of kids, there’s only one Father, isn’t there? In fact, he’s the reason we’re part of the family to start with. I’m telling you, God has got to be our focus. 

And you know, because of that, within the family, I think we’re able to feel a sense of harmony and oneness despite our differences. I mean, even though we may come from a lot of different places and speak a lot of different languages and possess a lot of different gifts and talents, we can all work together, because we’re all serving the same king and lord and father. And in this way, I believe we can experience a new sense of unity. And in my opinion, that’s the first thing the family of God offers.

And second, I think it can also offer all kinds of encouragement, and I’m talking about support and hope for all of us children as we try to do the best we can with what we’ve got. I’m telling you, when it’s firing on all cylinders, I believe this is exactly what the church can provide for us. And I’ll tell you something else, I believe that is exactly what Paul was talking about when he wrote this to Timothy:

Don't correct an older man. Encourage him, as you would your own father. Treat younger men as you would your own brother, and treat older women as you would your own mother. Show the same respect to younger women that you would to your sister.

Take care of any widow who is really in need. [1 Timothy 5:1-3, CEV]

Now that’s what Paul said, and according to the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews:

We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer. [Hebrews 10:24-25, CEV]

You know, in this ideal, this perfect family, we really need to be encouraging and strengthening and building one another up. And this is something we can do through the lessons we teach, because there’s nothing more encouraging than the Word of God. And we can do it through the examples that we set. And we can do it through the sensitivity that we show. 

And I’ll tell you, when we’re successful, when we’re successful within this family into which we’ve been called, and when we’re successful encouraging and strengthening and building one another up, man, we’re going to change. I mean, instead of stagnating in all our assumptions and presumptions and prejudices, our perspectives have got to shift and our vision has got to expand and our relationships with the Father and our brothers and sisters have got to deepen. In other words, we’ll be able to move closer to the kind of men and women we were created to be, because when it’s doing what it was intended to do, this new community can be the source of some genuine encouragement. And for me, that’s the second thing the family of God offers.

And third, I also believe it can offer love, and I’m talking about the kind of love that’s not distracted by specific tastes and preferences and that’s not directed to specific individuals with whom we happen to agree and in whom we’ve decided to trust. No, the love I’m talking about here is more like what Jesus talked about when he offered this command to disciples:

My children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. [John 13:33-35, CEV]

And as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians:

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. [Colossians 3:12-13, CEV]

You see, as I read these two passages, the kind of love that both Jesus and Paul talked about is more like an atmosphere than a bunch of individual actions. I mean, it seems as though the relationships that we have and share within this body are supposed to be shaped by our decision to be gentle and kind, humble and meek, patient and magnanimous to everybody. And it’s shown by our determination to do exactly what Christ told us to do, and I’m talking about loving each other as we’ve been loved. Now that’s the atmosphere about which I’m talking.

And you know, when it’s present, when the decision has been made and the determination has been set, and when we’re involved in making this family as loving as it can be, I believe two remarkable things are going to happen. I mean, on one hand, fewer of our brothers and sisters are going to feel shame and fear and loneliness. While, on the other hand, more members of our family will have the confidence and the faith to move forward, trusting that, if the worst should happen and they fall flat on their faces, the love offered by both the Father and his children will not change. And I think that’s the third thing the Family of God offers. 

Now, remember how I told you that Maggie was down last week and how, for me, that just plain felt right. Well, she went back to Morgantown on Tuesday. And even though, from what I hear, she’s coming back at the end of this week to celebrate someone’s birthday, it’s always a little sad seeing her go. But here’s some good news; when she’s gone, I believe I can still say that I’m truly a family guy. You see, 

When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home." [John 19:26-27, CEV]

Now that’s what happened. And I’ll tell you, when I hear those words, I’m reminded that right here and right now we’re a part of a different kind of family, one that was established to offer unity and encouragement and love to us, God’s children. You see, as we approach Easter, this is the word of relationship we can remember and claim.