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The Compassion of Christ from the Cross

John 19:26-27 | "Woman, behold your son!" ... "Behold, your mother!"

Rich Trotter

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression that someone is “so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good.”

We know for certain that Jesus was completely heavenly minded when it comes to spiritual matters. We read in the Bible that He had a firm determination to complete His mission of going to the cross to die for the sins of many (c.f. Luke 9:51; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 12:2).

But we also know that Jesus was perfectly good as far as earthly matters. Among His many attributes, we find in Scripture that He lived His life without sin, that He was loving, and that He had compassion for all people (see for example, Hebrews 4:15, John 15:12, Matthew 9:36).

When the time of His death came near, it became evident that Jesus was being arrested, falsely accused, and taken into custody to be crucified. At that point, Mary, the mother of Jesus was very likely wondering what would become of her future. Yet even as Jesus was in agony while suffering on the cross, and even though He would soon ascend back into heaven, He continued to be attentive to the legitimate needs of those here on earth. He gently and lovingly turned the well-being of His mother over to the care and concern of the Apostle John.

In this way, Jesus was building a sense of community among His followers that transcended biological families. And our risen Savior continues to do so in the same manner today. We—as adopted children of God—enjoy being part of a God-glorifying, Christ-exalting family. We have the privilege of looking out for others as they come across our paths. And as with the Apostle Paul, we may also have the opportunity to express our gratitude to others for their generosity toward us (Philippians 4:10-19).

The compassion of Christ continues to be seen in our own lives as He meets our needs and cares for us in very tangible ways. When we grow and become “all with one mind” as described in Acts 1:14, our relationships with one another become deeper and deeper. As a result, the bond of love and unity in the body of Christ becomes stronger and stronger. At that point, because of God’s faithfulness and His unending resources, we can truly say that “God will supply every need of ours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Reflection: 

  1. Can I look back and see how God has provided for me in the past?
  2. Can I look to Him and trust Him to take care of me now and meet my needs in the future?
  3. Are there ways in which I can help provide for those around me?
  4. Am I looking to God not only for my physical needs, but for my spiritual needs as well? Do I have a willingness to be molded and shaped, and to be conformed more and more into the image of Christ?