Affection
Pastor Smith is preaching here on the topic of affection, taking his inspiration from Christ's last words to his mother before He died on the cross: "Dear woman, here is your son!" (John 19:26).
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Sermon Excrept
"Today we are going to be looking at the word of affection.
God called Mary, a young woman, to be the mother of Jesus. When the angel came and spoke to her (see Luke 1:28-29), he said: "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be".
She was troubled. This was the forerunner of many troubles for Mary."
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The Word of Affection - Sermon Summary
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. John 19:25-27God called Mary - a young woman - to be the mother of Jesus.
- An angel came and spoke to Mary (Luke 1:28-29)
- She was troubled
- This was a forerunner of many troubles for Mary
- In future - brought great honor
- In present - brought great trial, difficulty, heart ache
Consider trouble Mary experienced as Jesus' mother:
- What sorrow - no room in Inn
- Lay new born baby in straw manger
- What anguish - learn Herod's plan to destroy infant son's life
- What trouble - had to flee to foreign country with young son
- What piercing of soul - saw son despised and rejected of men
- What grief of heart - saw son hated and persecuted by nation & religious leaders
- Christ - man of sorrows
- Mary - woman of sorrows
- We see fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy
Joseph and Mary presented Jesus to Lord according of law of Moses- Luke 2:25-35
- Prophesied - sword pierce Mary's soul
John 19:25 "then stood by cross of Jesus his mother"- Never such bliss at a human birth
- Never such sorrow at a human death
Here we see a mother's heart- Jesus' disciples may dissert Him
- His friends may forsake Him
- The nation may despise Him
- His mother stands there at foot of the cross
- John 19:26-27 "then stood by cross of Jesus his mother"
We see the perfect man setting an example for children to honor their parents
Command to honor parents goes far beyond a bare obedience- It embraces love, gratitude, respect
- Applies whether child:
-
- young & under parents authority
- older and out of home
Luke 2:51 - Jesus example as a child
On cross see Jesus example as adult
Show respect to both good and bad parents
Examples: Me- When became SDA -Parents disowned me as son- remb. birthdays, anniversary, anniversary with cards
- Father died - 32nd degree Mason - Masonic books
- Mother & Father's death - my adoption secret to friends and family
Christ addressed mother as "woman"- Respectful term
- We see John had returned to Savior's side
Except for forsaking of God- The forsaking of His disciples probably Jesus' greatest pain
Matt 26:31 - Jesus warned disciples- Greek: offended = scandalized, ashamed
Disciples flight exposed Christ to contempt & scoffing -- John 18:19 - why high priest asked Christ questions
Only 1 of the 11 sought Christ while on cross - John
We too - as disciples of Christ- Wonder away from Him at time of trial
Note how Jesus treated the returned disciple- Did not rebuke him
- Gave him an honor and privilege
Did same with other 10 disciples- Gave great responsibility- gospel to world
- Names on gates of New Jerusalem
Parable - he who forgiven most loves most- Deeper conviction of sin goes in our heart
- The more we understand what God has forgiven us of
- The more we will love Him
- Laodicea's problem - therefore don't really love God
So today - when we return to Christ's side- He will receive us
- Will give us honorable work to do for Him
Testimony - me - let my Lord down He does receive us back fully- He will use us again
- Message of B of HS - honor, priv.
- Here we discover Christ's wisdom
Placing mother, Mary, under John's care wise- John - most loving of all disciples
- Most understood Christ's love
- John & Mary had special bond - both loved Jesus
- Blessed spiritual fellowship together
- We not really Christian
- We don't know Jesus
- We don't want to be with Him in person of believers
- Mal 3:16
- Matt 12:50 - we are Jesus' mother, brother, sister
- Phil 4:19 - He will provide for our needs
- Here we see we must not ignore responsibility to our natural human relationships
On cross - Christ's most important work- Yet - not neglect human responsibility
We must follow Christ's example
No spiritual duty so important to cause us to neglect responsibility to our families- Man - wife and children
- Woman - husband and children
On other had- must not let spouse or children come between our:
- relationship with God
- duties to God
- Matt 10:37
- Ex: Wife not come to church because of husbands objection
- Parent put child's interests above God - Ex- child's sports activity on Sabbath
I'm amazed at how loving, caring and giving Christ was!
He is nailed to cross, bleeding, dying awful death, mocked by onlookers- Prays for forgiveness for those who are crucifying Him
- Ministers to man reaching out to Him for salvation
- Considers His mother's future needs
- Gives John a precious responsibility
Conclusion
Christ still intercedes for us today.He still ministers to bring salvation to us.
He cares deeply for each of us.
The Word of Affection teaches us:
- He who in His dying hour made provision for His mother's care
- He will also make provision for each of us today
- He will provide for our every need:
- Physical need - health, essentials for life
- Spiritual need - spiritual growth & salvation
- Emotional need
- Deliver from depression, anger,
- Heal emotional wounds
- Need for fellowship
- God's love for you
- God's provision for you in all things
