John 19:25-30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed his head and gave up His spirit. – John 19:30
Jesus has now come to the last few moments before his death. He must have felt it: the dehydration, the loss of blood, the lack of moisture in his mouth, the life draining from within him. But there are still two things he does before he gives up his spirit.
First, he makes sure his mother is going to be taken care of. He addresses her with respect as he did at the wedding at Cana. To this beloved woman, who carried him in her womb against all odds, who gave birth to him and raise him, he presents his beloved disciple as her new son. Perhaps, it’s because John was the only disciple who hadn’t run away. Perhaps, it’s because John would be the only one to outlive her. Whatever the reason [for choosing John], even in his last moments, he honours his mother and makes the necessary arrangements so that she will not be cast out from society as the mother of a criminal. He is a good son, not only to his heavenly Father, but also to his earthly mother.
Second, he knows his earthly mission is complete, and it seems like now he turns to his own needs. But even in addressing his own thirst, the Gospel writer tells us that he fulfils still two more prophecies found in the Psalms. Even the moistening of his lips is just enough to enable him to utter his final words, “It is finished.” Until his last breath, he put the mission of fulfilling the Father’s will and all of Scripture’s prophecies about himself before his own needs.
In Jesus’ example, we see that fulfilling God’s mission is a culmination of obedience in the big things and faithfulness in the small things. The process and journey is just as important as the results.
We’ve received the great mission of global discipleship of every nation, of every generation. But we’ve also been commanded to reflect his love in all that we do, in every way that we do them, and to all who we meet in the process.
Reflection:
How devoted are we to the grand mission that God has given us? Enough to put our own needs aside when necessary? Enough to put others’ needs before our own?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we look upon your sacrifice; you became nothing, poured out to death. We are so humbled by your example and feel so inadequate. But we desire to live as you lived. We desire to live as you died, totally and utterly devoted unto obedience. Give us grace to be poured out as you were and so share in your death and resurrection. In your name we pray. Amen. Brothers and sister, if you’re joining the project of growing beans together this Holy Week, today is the day to start watering your beans!
Jesus has now come to the last few moments before his death. He must have felt it: the dehydration, the loss of blood, the lack of moisture in his mouth, the life draining from within him. But there are still two things he does before he gives up his spirit.
First, he makes sure his mother is going to be taken care of. He addresses her with respect as he did at the wedding at Cana. To this beloved woman, who carried him in her womb against all odds, who gave birth to him and raise him, he presents his beloved disciple as her new son. Perhaps, it’s because John was the only disciple who hadn’t run away. Perhaps, it’s because John would be the only one to outlive her. Whatever the reason [for choosing John], even in his last moments, he honours his mother and makes the necessary arrangements so that she will not be cast out from society as the mother of a criminal. He is a good son, not only to his heavenly Father, but also to his earthly mother.
Second, he knows his earthly mission is complete, and it seems like now he turns to his own needs. But even in addressing his own thirst, the Gospel writer tells us that he fulfils still two more prophecies found in the Psalms. Even the moistening of his lips is just enough to enable him to utter his final words, “It is finished.” Until his last breath, he put the mission of fulfilling the Father’s will and all of Scripture’s prophecies about himself before his own needs.
In Jesus’ example, we see that fulfilling God’s mission is a culmination of obedience in the big things and faithfulness in the small things. The process and journey is just as important as the results.
We’ve received the great mission of global discipleship of every nation, of every generation. But we’ve also been commanded to reflect his love in all that we do, in every way that we do them, and to all who we meet in the process.
Reflection:
How devoted are we to the grand mission that God has given us? Enough to put our own needs aside when necessary? Enough to put others’ needs before our own?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we look upon your sacrifice; you became nothing, poured out to death. We are so humbled by your example and feel so inadequate. But we desire to live as you lived. We desire to live as you died, totally and utterly devoted unto obedience. Give us grace to be poured out as you were and so share in your death and resurrection. In your name we pray. Amen. Brothers and sister, if you’re joining the project of growing beans together this Holy Week, today is the day to start watering your beans!