WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
- Welcome to Friends and Family Day
- Guests visiting
- Our series: The Cross of Christ
DNA DISCOVERIES: “MORE THAN FRIENDS”
Family histories and lineages are becoming more and more popular as people want to learn about and discover who they are, where they came from, who their ancestors may have been and maybe even what famous people you might be related to.
A man named Walter MacFarlane was born in 1943 and raised in Nu’uanu, Hawaii. His best friend since sixth grade has been a guy named Alan “Robi” Robinson. They were both star players on their high school football team—MacFarlane at tight end and Robi at tackle—and they did everything together. More than 60 years later, they still live near where they were raised and they’re still inseparable. In 2017 MacFarlane’s children bought him a DNA testing kit for his birthday. He sent in his info, and the testing company told him he matched with someone in his area: Alan “Robi” Robinson.
It turns out the friend who was like a brother to him really was his brother. They have the same mother. Robi was adopted; MacFarlane was raised by his grandparents. MacFarlane said the possibility never crossed his mind, though “there were times when I did think, ‘I look like Robi a little bit.’” MacFarlane shared the news with Robinson at a family Christmas party, to which he was invited as a “new” member of the family. Robinson said, “I’ve never gotten a Christmas present this good.”
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
This morning, we are continuing our series on the Cross of Christ. What the cross means to us today as we examine how Christ’s death reaches into our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. Today’s lesson is aptly titled “The Cross Brings Friends and Family Together.” Let’s read our text together.
JOHN 19:25-27 (2 Slides)
25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Much of the crowd that Jesus had taught for 3 years turned their backs on him and were the instigators for crucifixion. The authorities in power did not defend him but handed him over to be killed. The criminal on the cross next to Jesus mocked him. The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves. Many of Jesus’ disciples were nowhere to be found at this hill of Golgotha.
I imagine the scene is one of conflicted silence. Men and women who were regretting their calls of “Crucify Him!” because they could now see he was innocent while at the same time knowing that over and over again in their lives, they were taught to stand up against false teachings and blaspheming about God. The Pharisees were great at teaching the law and these people had bought into the good teachings as well as the bad and false teachings. Their obedience and desire to believe and obey what is right hardened their hearts.
There may have been some sniffles and sobbing because we know that emotions run high and seeing death come to the man who healed people, they knew was a sad situation. This man fed our family early in his ministry on a hill with 5000 other families as he taught us to be a light to this world, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, we learned to pray to God and ask Him for His blessings, not to be angry with people or lust or retaliate against those who do us harm, to love and pray for our enemies, give to those in need, and follow him.
And at the foot of the cross we find ourselves here in John 19. Gathered at the foot of this cross were some of Jesus’ family and his friends. They were witnessing what many of us would stand in horror to view. Their sadness must have been thick with tension.
But, even in the midst of this cruel situation, Jesus has the clarity of mind to share some words with them.
In our passage, we find Jesus on the cross. His destiny is sealed as was known by God from the beginning and was foretold by the ancient prophets. And as he looks down, he sees these friends and family already grieving the loss of their teacher, relative, and friend.
First, we have Mary, Jesus’ mother. At this time, we never hear about Joseph. He has likely already passed away well before this event. The last time we hear about Joseph was when he and Mary went searching for the lost 12-year-old boy Jesus at the Temple.
Now, Mary, the mother of Jesus is alone. Being a widow meant that she was being cared for by her son Jesus. Even while suffering in agony, Jesus shows his love and care for his mother. Jesus’ compassion for Mary teaches us to care for our parents when they are aging and need our help. Jesus’ brothers were not there; they had been skeptical of Jesus and had probably remained in Capernaum.
JOHN 7:5
For not even his brothers believed in him.
Imagine her incredible grief, helplessly watching her son suffer and die unjustly. Indeed the prophet Simeon, who had spoken to her in the temple just after Jesus’ birth, had been correct when he had told her, “A sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35, NIV). Surely Mary was feeling that “sword” at that very moment.
Second, we read that Mary’s sister was there. John, writing this Gospel account, wouldn’t have mentioned her name because this was his own mother, Salome. This makes James and John Jesus’ cousins.
We also have another Mary, the wife of Clopas. She would have been the mother of another James. Some have associated Clopas as the same man Cleopas who is one of the two men who meet Jesus on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24. However, there is still debate about this.
Finally, the last woman is Mary Magdalene whom we might all be familiar with. She is mentioned more than many of the male disciples, she supported the disciples and Jesus, had seven demons cast out of her according to Luke 8:2, and was a witness to the crucifixion and also Jesus’ resurrection.
This is not everyone though. We also find out that standing nearby was John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Jesus’ cousin John who wrote this Gospel account. John’s mother was here and accompanying her was her son John.
There may have been others watching. Some who walked by and watched. Others who ignored what was happening because of how common this was.
Gathered together at the foot of the cross were Jesus’ family: Mary, Salome, and John, and Jesus’ friends: Mary Clopas and Mary Magdalene. These weren’t all his family and it wasn’t everyone Jesus considered a friend. But they were there. This was certainly not the fellowship gathering under which these individuals would have wanted to be together. Wouldn’t it have been better to gather for a meal and to tell stories and laugh together?
And what does Jesus do? He calls to them. Woman…mom…your son. John…your mother. Mary, as a widow, would not have had means to provide for herself. Jesus, being her son would have done that. Now, without Jesus, she needed family. What about Jesus’ other siblings? They could have done this and they should have done this. But Jesus, thinking about his family, appointed John to be her guardian. It wasn’t out of lack of ability that the other siblings weren’t taking care, but Jesus wanted one of his disciples, the one whom he loved to take care of his beloved mother. And John did.
The cross brings friends and family together.
How have you seen the cross of Jesus bring people you love together? When we are disciples of Jesus, we build up a family of trust and love for people that may not be related by birth, but who are related in the hope of Jesus.
Let’s look at a few ways the cross accomplishes this.
THE CROSS GATHERS US TOGETHER UNDER COMMON GOALS
When we are gathered together under the shadow of the cross, our goals are the same. We have this common goal to reach the world for Christ. This is known as the Great Commission.
MATTHEW 28:18-20 (2 Slides)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The cross brought about this commission to go and make disciples. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, he deserves the honor of having ALL authority. When he tells his disciples (us included) to go…we go! This is not something we can just ignore.
Under the shadow of the cross, Jesus calls his beloved disciple to take care of his now adopted mother. Treat her like your own. He now had a common goal with Jesus to take care of her just as Jesus, her son, did. Under the cross, John would also eventually write this Gospel account (John’s Gospel). John ends his Gospel account proclaiming that there were so many things Jesus did that haven’t been written and that there would never be enough books that could contain their writings. So, he and the others would now go and tell these stories to new disciples.
THE CROSS REVEALS OUR TRUE MOTIVES
We can see that under the cross we see what people are willing or unwilling to do. Many of Jesus’ disciples were absent from the crucifixion. Some doubted that their discipleship was worth it—that this meant the end—Jesus is dead, others were afraid to be put on a cross themselves and hid or denied knowing Jesus, while others still were just unwilling to believe. Then there were those that did believe. They were present even in the difficult times.
We know people like each of these. Some of our family doubt. Some believe. Others deny knowing Jesus because it would upset the world around them; the world where they work and live during the week. Then there are those who are in it with you through the difficult times and the good times.
Those are the people who will help when you are down, when you are sick, when you need help moving, when you need a good ear to listen.
JOHN 15:12-17 (3 Slides)
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
A friend will lay his life down. A friend is present even when we disagree. A friend doesn’t abandon you. Jesus is a friend. I want to be a friend. We should strive to love one another.
THE CROSS MAKES US FAMILY
Here in the shadow of the cross, we see Jesus’ family and Jesus’ friends. They were here to take care of Jesus, take care of his lifeless body, and to mourn his passing. One time, Jesus was told that his mother and brothers wanted to speak to him. This is what he said:
MATTHEW 12:46-50 (2 Slides)
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
When these friends and family of Jesus stood at the cross; when Jesus invites them into a family relationship, they truly did become family.
In Christ’s greater family, the church, fellow believers may be more of a family to us than our blood relatives. That is why we can go to a new state, a new city, and find a church and walk in the doors and immediately have friends and a new family. The church is special this way.
I was once working for a company that had roots with the Southern Baptists. In order for me to keep my position, they wanted me to move across the country from Oregon to Tennessee to train under another manager and they also required that I become a Southern Baptist. I knew that this wouldn’t work. I can travel across the country, find a church of Christ, and I will know someone or will meet someone who knows someone I know. We have things in common. We have friends in common. We have family in common. If I convert, I will know no one. Not to say I wouldn’t eventually meet people or become friends with the members of that church, but it wouldn’t be the same. Suffice to say, I did not accept the position and I have no regrets.
The cross makes us family. The cross brings friends and family together.
CONCLUSION
Today, we have enjoyed a full time of fellowship already. What I love about Jesus and his cross is the way friends and family can come together and reignite familiar relationships again…we pick up where we left off as if no time has passed.
Our Friends and Family Day was intended for that too. We hope that here this morning, you have felt the warmth of love and friendship with those that are here. We want to continue that in a bit with our lunch together. Please stay for lunch and let’s embrace one another as family as we eat together and laugh and share life.
We will also have a devotional led by our young boys of this church after lunch so please stay for that. It won’t be a long devotional but a time for these boys to share scripture readings, prayer and a few songs.
INVITATION
Finally, this morning we want to offer an invitation. If you are looking for a church home, look no further, you’ve found it! Welcome home! We are a family here and would love to have you be a part of this family. The cross brings friends and family together and I believe Jesus has done that this morning. Do you agree?
Maybe you need to know more about the cross of Jesus. Why it matters. Why it is important. Why it is necessary. We would love to study with you.
Maybe you have studied and are ready to be baptized. To make Jesus your Lord and Master. To submit to Jesus in baptism. We can do that this morning.
Maybe you need prayer………(conclude)
