MAY 25

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Luke 2:34-35

“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Acts 4:11-12

“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Mark 8:34

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’”

Mark 10:21

“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’”

Galatians 6:14

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

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We will be reading from a book by Erwin Lutzer, President of Moody Bible Institute.  It’s a short book about Christ’s sacrifice for us.  It’s called simply, “For Us.”

John 19:23-27

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.  They said therefore among themselves, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,’ that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

‘They divided My garments among them,  and for My clothing they cast lots.’

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother,  “Woman, behold your son!”    Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!”    and from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

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I wonder if Mary thought of Simeon’s words as she stood at the foot of the cross. (see the first “personal promise” above).   If she hadn’t understood them before, she did now, all too painfully.   When she heard Jesus tell John to assume His duties as eldest son, the last shred of hope disappeared.  He was, really and truly, going to die before her eyes.

If you’ve ever had to stand by and see your own child go through suffering you can’t relieve, you know Mary’s pain.  She would have given anything to stop the crucifixion or trade places with Him, but she knew only His death would purchase her salvation and ours.

Mary couldn’t help her Son, but she could be there in patient love.  All too often, we choose to avoid the pain of others, especially when it appears that we can do nothing for them.  Who do you know today who needs your patient love far more than your advice?

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