Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Mary at the foot of the cross
• She is not alone - there are other ladies
• The disciple whom Jesus loved is there
• Jesus considers His mother's needs as He is on the cross
• Jesus entrusts Mary into John's care
• Example of the preacher Sinclair Ferguson
• The first painful experience - the loss of His brother and father
• The second painful experience - the loss of His mother
• Simeon had prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary's heart
• Jesus was suffering from the death penalty
• Mary cannot keep away
• She knew great pain but great privilege
• Not everyone was there
• Overview:
• The Privilege of Love
• The Pain of Love
• The Power of Love
• The Person of Love
• The Provision of Love

The Privilege of Love

• An angel came and said she was "highly favoured"
• A miraculous conception
• Mary brought up her child
• She noticed He was not like any of her other children
• She was often with Him when He started His ministry - at His teaching and miracles
• She did have always have access to Him

The Pain of Love

• The pain of love
• She became a refugee
• The massacre of the innocents
• The people of Nazareth reject her beloved Son
• The attempt to throw Jesus off a cliff
• That His own brothers rejected Him (John 7)
• On the cross
• Brutally treated
• The mocking, taunting and reviling

The Power of Love

• She was drawn to the Cross
• John was drawn to the Cross also
• He took a great risk
• He was the disciple whom Jesus loved
• What about you this morning?
• Nothing would be possible without the love of God
• Do you see the power of love in Jesus?

The Person of Love

• The Lord Jesus
• His first words: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"
• What an amazing prayer
• Mary hears this
• His second words: "Today, you will be with Me in paradise"
• What amazing words
• The thief responds in faith
• Trust in Jesus Christ
• Quote: "It matters more how you end your life than how you begin your life"
• This is the message of Christianity
• Jesus was praying for sinners and enemies
• Jesus has offered His life for us
• Jesus the sinless one became the sinful one (2 Cor 5:21)

The Provision of Love

• Jesus is keeping the fifth commandment: honour your father and mother
• Jesus does not call Mary 'mother' - this is for various reasons:
• Not to exalt Mary
• It is not the blood relation that matters but the spiritual relation
• Mary called Him Saviour
• Do you see the love for Mary?
• Jesus wanted her to be spiritually strengthened
• Mary meekly received the word of Jesus
• This is the mark of a true disciple
• John receives the word of Christ
• This is a challenge to us
• Do we honour our mothers and fathers?
• It seems as this stage that Joseph is dead
• John honours the commandment
• In the midst of bearing the world's sin, Jesus is concerned with His mother
• God is concerned with our physical needs