GOOD MORNING BELOVED!
Welcome to this special edition of the SJMBC Podcast:
“HOW IMPORTANT IS THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU
WHEN IT COMES TO . . . ?”
I am your host Brother Henry Cotton, Jr. and I am also the Pastor of the SJMBC. Welcome to our Podcast. We will be broadcasting every day during this Holy Week Celebration by remembering Jesus “Seven Last Words from the Cross.” The topic for our Podcast today is:
“HOW IMPORTANT IS THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU WHEN IT COMES TO . . . THE WORD OF AFFECTION!”
As Jesus hung on the cross in excruciating pain; having been beaten and bloodied, the Bible singles out seven last phrases (or words) that Jesus spoke. The third word was:
“ When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” John 19:26-27 (KJV)
This word is known as the “Word of Affection.” Some people question how much affection is being shown here when Jesus refers to His mother Mary as “Woman!” We need to understand a couple of things about this expression of endearment (or apparent lack thereof) to Mary. For one thing, we never see Jesus address Mary as “MOTHER” in the scriptures. Secondly, the term “woman” was used like we use the term “ma’am” today. The usage of this term was commonly and respectfully used when addressing single, betrothed, or even married women.
The usage of this term kind of makes us think that there is a less than motherly love between Jesus and Mary. On the contrary, Jesus had to make sure that Mary remembered who the angel told Mary Jesus was and what He was born to do. Remember, Jesus also addressed Mary in public using this same term of endearment in John 2:
“ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”” (expound). John 2: 3-4 (NIV)
“Behold your son!” There are some who say that Jesus was beckoning Mary to look at Him (expound). I contend that Jesus was telling Mary to look at the one to whom you can be a mother to from now on (expound). I think that we also need to point out that Jesus had at least two sisters, and four brothers (James, Joses, Judas, and Simon) (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55); And yet Jesus chose to leave Mary with His beloved disciple John. Anybody here know that a friend can often times be closer than a brother?
“Behold your mother.” John is affectionately known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John’s mother was Salome; she was present at the cross and was one of the women who went to minister oils and spices to the entombed Savior. But now Jesus was entrusting John to allow a mother who is losing a son to have another son to be a mother to; and also Jesus entrusted John to take care of Mary like she was his birth mother. How many of you know that a woman doesn’t have to be the one who gave birth to you for you to recognize you as mother?
Remember, our ZOOM Podcast airs live on Tuesdays at 7:00am:
Pastor Cotton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82997714213
Meeting ID: 829 9771 4213
You can always reach me through our website and our email:
Website: https://stjamesmbcphilly.com
Email: pastor@stjamesmbcphilly.com
