"Love Through Pain"

 

“Love Through Pain”

 

Shortly after moving to a new pastorate in New York’s Southern Tier I visited a home in which the husband was terminally ill and was being cared for by his wife and other family members with help from church and community friends. After about two months he was hospitalized to better manage his painful condition. A day or two later I received a call that he’d probably not live through the day so I went to his room to pray and be present with him. Soon his son arrived, went to his dad’s bedside and heard him whisper, “How’s Ron?”, his toddler grandson who’d undergone surgery earlier in the week. When his son replied that the child was doing well he smiled through his pain. Later in the day this godly gentleman stepped into Heaven. Perhaps this was the last thing he wanted to know before meeting Jesus.

I thought about this incident when I read Jesus’ third statement from the cross: “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved (i.e. John) standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’” In His agony He, as His mother’s firstborn son, saw to her care by entrusting her to His friend. (Some scholars believe that Mary and John’s mother were sisters so there may have been a family relationship as well.) John then “…took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27). Like the man above, Jesus showed His concern for someone He loved hours before His death.

As we remember and celebrate our Lord’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection this month He showed His love not only for His mother but for the world (“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”—1 John 3:16). The plan was completed when “…God raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4:24). Forty days later He ascended into Heaven and “…sat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19, emphasis added) indicating that the work of salvation had been completed and He “…is now interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34) as our “…Advocate with the Father….” (1 John 2:1, NKJV). In the words of the last line of Beatrice Bush Bixler’s “I Am Not Worthy”, “What mercy, what love and what grace!” This is available to all (“…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”—Romans 10:13, emphasis added)—receive God’s gift by trusting Jesus this Resurrection Season.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan