Buried with Christ
27th Mar 26 | 13:38
Studies by Book
Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 30 John 19 25-27 The home and the church
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Wed12Jan2022 – The home and the church - John 19:25-27 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (30) - Bible reading: Mark 3:32-35
“Lord Jesus, we thank You, that on the cross, You brought the second criminal into the eternal place of rest with You. Also, on the cross, You set in place the dynamics of the church. You showed us how the church has to be a family, to take care of each other. We praise You, Lord Jesus. In Your precious name, we pray, Amen.”
We have completed the study of Luke 23:26-43, which we had titled as the CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS. We ought to be moving on in our study of the Gospel of Luke but as we study the crucifixion, there is one more incident that took place from the cross, which we must consider before we take up the death of Jesus on the cross.
This was the interaction of Jesus with His mother, Mary, and His beloved disciple, John. This interaction is recorded in the Gospel of John. So, temporarily, we will shift to John 19:25-27 to consider the third word that Jesus spoke from the cross.
John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" (27) Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
As we look at this interaction, we realise that Jesus was setting in place the fundamental dynamic of the home and the church. Jesus was going back to His Father and what will remain here, is His body, the church, the bride of Christ.
The body of Christ, which is the church cannot be separated from the home and neither can the home be separated from the church. The home and the church, overlap.
The Lord has brought this dynamic into focus for us these days because of the pandemic. The gathered church happened in different ways, settings and cultures. Now, we are being compelled, not to gather in large numbers and are being forced to stay home and worship as families. The home and the church have been forced to overlap. In the era of the early church, this was how it was, the home and the church overlapped.
The church need not be anxious that we are not able to gather as before but we must facilitate the growth of the church, in homes, which will cause a greater growth of the church. More people will be at ease to come to a home for prayer.
At the foot of the cross, it was largely the women who were gathered and the lone man mentioned here is John the beloved disciple. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was prominent among the women for she was agonizing deeply for her Son.
Luke 2:35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
Mary agonised much for her Son as she watched her Son suffer the torture of the cross.
This small group, huddled around the cross, comprises the church.
They are ones, who are one with Jesus in His pain and agony, not just of the physical nature but His agony that many like the second criminal should be reconciled with Him and enter into His eternal rest. This is the description of the church.
The church is made up of homes. Even those who are single, need not feel alone for they are embraced in homes, which is the body of Christ.
Mark 3:32-35 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." (33) But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" (34) And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, " Here are My mother and My brothers! (35) For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother ."
In the home-church relationship, there are benefits as well as responsibilities.
Jesus had brothers and sisters, who should have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus but the Lord was bringing Mary, His mother, into the special relationship of the church.
Jesus knew what Mary needed. Her needs were more than just her physical well being and those deeper needs and concerns would be met by John.
In the dynamics of the home-church there will be newer and deeper needs and responsibilities.
Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
The church is the family of God. The overlap of the home and the church is natural and not contrived. This dynamics of home-church growth must be cultivated.
Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Jesus is our eldest brother in the family of God. We are being conformed to His image.
Thought to ponder
Loving one another is the prominent dynamic of the home-church