February 27, Third Sunday in Lent

Lesson: John 19.25-27

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INTRODUCTION

James Hillman, in The Force of Character ⁽¹⁾ writes about the oft repeated stories that we hear from "older folk," and why they are necessary stories.

When Grandmother tells yet again about the chimney fire that blazed onto the roof and almost burned the house down, and recounts how each member of the family did this and that, the story is boring only if you listen with an ear for fact.

But the story is also a lesson about concealed dangers, about protecting "home," about family collaboration and about the character of each of the "characters," whose styles emerge through the emergency.

1. Why must these stories be told repeatedly?

2. What is the story trying to tell beyond Grandmother's telling.

3. Why are grandmothers through the ages repositories of stories?

"These stories, repeated and repeated, over and over, show the lore-making, mythologizing function of the psyche, which turns the disasters and celebrations of the family, of the town, into foundation stories that give background and underground to the patternless flow of daily events. By means of repetition, the psyche forms significance from the ordinary. It is as if the soul begs for the same stories so that it knows that something will last."

4. Thus the story told yet again, and so annoyingly boring on one level, intimates the lasting stability of cosmic time.

As Kierkegaard goes on to say: "The world continues, and it continues because it is a repetition."

5. That forgetful old uncle, that tiresome grandmother, offer a foretaste of the eternal.

1. Good Friday offers a taste of the eternal.

1. It is a series of stories that needs to be told over and over again, until we get it, that is, if we are going to get it.

2. We need to look at the characters and their roles and the dialogue, both verbal and non-verbal that they offer us.

2. There is no humor in this moment only sadness.

1. There is no laughter, only tears of anguish.

2. Like an old black and white movie, there is only fading light into the deep darkness of change of scene.

3. The clock of time is not stationary, but racing on at breathless speed.

4. It is as if the life force is being pulled out of us and we are forced to face all the realities of human existence in a matter of minutes.

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MAIN BODY:

1. On Good Friday, Jesus spoke seven last words from the cross.

1. We call it "Good Friday."

2. What is good about it.

3. Did you happen to notice the announcement for the Good Friday service?

In the comic strip B.C., B. C. is having a conversation with one of his friends:

B.C. says: "I hate the term, 'Good Friday!'"

"Why?"

"My Lord was hanged on a tree that day."

"If you were going to be hanged on that day, and he volunteered to take you place, how would you feel"

"Good."

"Have a nice day."

4. Well, I don't know about the nice day bit, but the rest of it is true.

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2. On the cross is a person.

1. He is the "Son of God," and the "Son of Man."

2. He is enduring his own agony.

3. He is offering his life as a ransom for many.

4. He said that if he was lifted up he would draw the whole world unto him.

5. Though he is suffering this cruel and painful death he is not unmindful of what is going on around him.

1. His has prayed for his persecutors and executioners.

2. He has comforted a dying criminal with the promise of remembrance and immortality.

6. It is in these acts of compassion and mercy that we see displayed the perfect character of Jesus.

7. Now he has one more compassionate act to perform.

3. He looks at his mother and says, "Woman behold you son."

1. She is beholding him.

2. She is beholding with her own personal grief, and sense of loss.

3. She may remember the presentation in the Temple.

³⁴"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35, NRSVA)

4. She remembers his lostness and being found in the temple.

⁴⁸When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." ⁴⁹He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. (Luke 2.48-51, NRSVA)

5. She remembers the wedding in Cana

¹On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ²Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." ⁴And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." ⁵His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2.1-5, NRSVA)

6. She remembers when she and her children attempted to speak with him

³¹Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. ³²A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." ³³And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" ³⁴And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! (Mark 3:31-34, NRSVA)

7. Jesus call her "woman", why not "mother?"

The term "Woman" was on his lips an title of honor rather than an expression of coldness. No atom of disrespect or failure of affection is displayed nor can we conceive it possible that our Lord was here separating himself in his mediatorial character from all relationship with the mother who bore him.

1. He has used it a few times before in the Gospels.

2. Christ yearned over the mother whose heart was being pierced by his agony, and with reverent anxiety entrusted her to the disciple whom he loved.

3. There is now a change in relationship.

4. It is a change that has always been present, but is now identifiable.

5. Jesus is undergoing a transformation from Son of God and Son of Man to fully be the Savior.

6. In this case he is still, but no longer Mary's son.

7. In this case Mary is still and no longer his mother.

8. In this case Jesus becomes Mary's Savior.

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8. Jesus desires that Mary have a place

1. Even though her heart is pierced by Simeon's sword it is refreshed and renewed by adoption.

2. Woman here is your son.

1. Here is your family.

2. Here is your home.

3. Here is your future.

3. He say essentially the same thing to John.

1. Here is your mother.

2. And there is no hesitation.

4. The transaction takes place immediately.

9. How much different than the tack that is often taken by children who are healthy and full of life, un-threatened with disaster.

A son called long distance to check with his mother to see how she was doing. His mother, a widow, lived alone. So he called regularly to stay in touch. ⁽²⁾

"How are you, Mom?"

"Oh, I'm fine, but the kitchen pipes broke."

"Did you get them fixed?"

"No, the plumber said it would cost $105."

"Mom, I'll send a hundred dollars right away."

"Thanks, son."

"Okay, bye."

"And, son?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry about the other five dollars. I'll find a way to pay for it myself."

1. It is not so much that we are thoughtless.

2. It is that we are so often preoccupied with our own concerns, life, worries, work and family.

10. Here is a man hanging on the cross.

1. You are not in that position.

2. Yet he is not thinking about himself.

3. In his agony and humiliation, he is not thinking about himself.

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CONCLUSION:

1. The words that Jesus speaks he speaks not only to those who are present.

1. He speaks them also to us, to you and me.

2. We do not have a time in our lives when we are far from forgiveness.

3. We do not have a time in our lives when we are not far from being remembered and immortality.

4. We do not have a time in our lives when we are not far from the family of God.

2. This is truly unconditional love.

1. This story is found in many places and differing settings, but the essential part is true.

The great Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of the lecture, the president of the seminary told the audience that Dr. Barth was not well and was very tired, and though he thought Dr. Barth would like to open for questions, he probably could not handle the strain. Then he said, "Therefore, I'll ask just one question on behalf of all of us." He turned to Barth and asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?"

This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper. the students sat with pads and pencils ready. They wanted to jot down the premier insight of the greatest theologian of their time.

Karl Barth closed his eyes and though for a while. then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, "The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"

2. How can you not fall in love with Jesus.

3. Men don't fall in love.

4. Love is the only antidote for selfishness.

5. It is the only way to eternity.

Amen!

1. (New York: Random House, 1999), 64.

2. Source unknown

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