Near The Cross
John 19:23-30
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
Refrain
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.
Refrain
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
If we had lived in the day of Christ’s crucifixion, I wonder how near we would have been to the cross. Would we have gotten close enough to see the agony on his face, to hear the final words that he spoke, to witness the blood as it poured from his wounds ?
How near are we this morning to the cross.........to the crucified Christ ? Our nearness to the cross will be evident in the life that we live. If we are near the cross, it will be reflected in how we live, what we do, and in our relationships with others.
Our text reveals to us who was near the cross on that day.
There were four women present, and one man. They were Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister whose name was Salome, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, Mary Magdalene, and John, the disciple.
These individuals were there at the cross because of the love that Christ had for them, and also because of their love for Christ.
This morning I want us to look at four of these individuals, and what we find in them being near the cross.
I. Mary Magdadene............Near The Cross We’ll Find A Changed Life.
Mary Magdalene.......why were you there at the cross ? Why would you want to witness such a scene ? Her testimony.......he changed my life. Before I met him, my life was a wreck. I was possessed by 7 demons. I had no self control. I was living a self destructive life. But all of that changed when I met Christ. He cast out the demons. He set me free from bondage. He gave me purpose.
After her miraculous conversion, Mary Magdalene would become a faithful follower of the Lord. She was a faithful supporter of his ministry, was near the cross on the day of his crucifixion, and would be one of the first to hear the news of the resurrection !
At the cross this morning, you too can find a changed life. Christ can set you free ! He can deliver you ! He can change your life. He can give purpose, and meaning to your life !
II. Salome.............Near The Cross We’ll Find A Corrected Life.
Salome was the mother of James, and John.
As she stood there beholding Jesus dying on the cross, I wonder if she thought of the request that she once made to the Lord. Mat 20:21 "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. "
The Lord would use her request to teach a powerful lesson about being a servant. Mat 20:26 "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;"
The Lord corrected her thinking. Though she was like most parents, and wanting the best for her sons.......she was still being selfish. And the Lord taught her the secret to sucess. It is through serving.
Near the cross......our selfishness thinking will be corrected. Near the cross........we’ll witness the selflessness of our Lord, and his sacrificial death for our sins. Near the cross......we will begin to put things into the right perspective, and begin to see life in a different way !
Near the cross we’ll gain an understanding of the honor of being a servant of his.
III. Mary the mother of Jesus...........Near The Cross We’ll Find A Committed Life.
In Mary, I see the picture of a committed life.
She was committed to God when she was young, and thus was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. She was committed to the Lord as she cared for him, raised him, taught him, and watched him develop. She was committed to him in his ministry by supporting him. And now she is committed to him all the way to the cross.
Mary was saved........not because she gave birth to Jesus, but because she believed in who he was, and why he came. Listen to the words that she spoke after hearing the words that she would give birth to Christ.
Luke 1:47 "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Near the cross.........we’ll find a committed life.
If you’re not living a consistent, committed life, it’s because you’re not near the cross.
If you’re near the cross, you will live committed to the Lord.
IV. John, the disciple.......Near The Cross We’ll Find A Caring Life.
If there was one thing that John knew, he knew that the Lord loved him ! He is referred to as the beloved disciple. He refers to himself in his writing as being "the disciple whom Jesus loved". I do not believe that he was arrogant in saying this. John simply knew that Jesus loved him, and wanted everyone to know it. John loved, and cared for Christ as well.
John was one of the three disciples along with Peter, and James who were chosen by the Lord to be with him on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were also the only ones chosen to go into the house of the ruler of the synagogue when he raised his daughter from the dead. And again, John was one of the three to be chosen by the Lord to accompany him into the garden of Gethsemane.
But now here at the cross, the only one of the disciples that stands near the cross is John ! He is faithful to the very end.
And it is to him that the Lord commits the care of his mother.
V26-27 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold they son ! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother ! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Jesus cared for John, and John for him........and because of that he cared for others !
Near the cross we’ll find a caring life !
If we are near to the cross of Christ, it will manifest itself in the way that we care for others. We will live a caring life, and one filled with compassion for others !
This morning......how much do you love, and care for others ?
That will show how near to the cross you are !
In closing this morning........I encourage you to examine your nearness to the Christ of the cross. He died on the cross for your sins so that you might like Mary Magdalene experience a changed life........a new life. This morning if you will draw near the cross, you will learn the true value of humility, and service. At the cross, you can find the strength to live the committed, dedicated life, and at the cross you can become the caring, compassionate person that Christ wants you to be.
How near are you to the cross ?
