Daily Devotions
Finding a New Family at the Cross
Title: Finding a New Family at the Cross
Reading for November 22: Acts 22-23
Weekly reading for November 18-24: John 1-5
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clops, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:24-27
Today is a good day. Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and children will gather around tables and join hands in giving thanks and enjoying a meal together.
However, not everyone will experience this today. There are some who will give thanks silently at an empty table. Others are looking at empty seats at the table. Whatever the reason, as some give thanks today there is a more than a tinge of sadness and loneliness mixed in with the thanksgiving.
Jesus knew this feeling. As he agonized in physical pain on the cross, there was an equally strong emotional pain he had to endure. There at the foot of his cross was his mother. He envisioned the empty seat that would be at his table from then on.
But Jesus did something to ease Mary's pain. With a few words, he created a new family for her. There was no way that John could replace Jesus. Jesus wasn't naive. What he was doing was making a way for his mother to cope with life, both physically and emotionally, by ensuring that she had someone who would love her and care for her.
That's what the church is. It is a family. It's a family that loves the orphan and the widow. It's a fellowship that enfolds the lonely and those who have no one else in life to turn to.
If you're feeling lonely today, listen to what Jesus is saying to you. He's not promising to completely remove the sadness. He knows that some hurts are too deep and strong. But he also knows that what you need today is a family. Look around and see what he has given you. Hear him say, "Behold, your son." Hear him say, "Behold, your mother."
If you don't have a church family, please let me know. I can help you find people who will love you and help you.
Father, we thank you for family. Thank you for our earthly families, but most of all we thank you for the spiritual family Jesus gave us through the cross.
