Christ Committed Not Only His Spirit, But Also His Mother

     “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your Mother.’  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”  John 19:26-27 (NIV)  

     “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit My Spirit.’  When He had said this, He breathed His last.”  Luke 23:46 (NIV)      

     Upon His crucifixion, Christ committed His soul to His Father in heaven.   We, Christians, are well aware of this Scripture.   However, have we ever contemplated the message of Christ committing His Mother into the loving hands of His disciple, John?   We should.   Actually, this was Christ’s last worldly action during His life on earth.   I can’t help but feel there is a significance in this, and we are missing it.    

     Taking care of His Mother was so important that Jesus assigned it to John, the one whose faithfulness was closest (emotionally and physically) to Him.   Thus, though overlooked, this act is extremely noteworthy, meaningful and reflective of how we should put emphasis on caring for our loved ones.

      As society pushes to climb the corporate ladder and measure its identity in the statistics of rising above the rank and file, what happens to stepping down from worldly heights so as to live for (and from) family roots?   Is family cherished, and looked out for, the way one protects, and exists for, sustaining the image of loyalty to a career?   Too often, they are not.   Yet, ironically, the world wonders why loneliness and lack of meaning ring loud and clear in 21^st Century existence.   Could it be we have our pinnacles reversed?  Shouldn’t taking care of family out rank caring for a worldly career?

     To find this answer, let’s look at what Christ was pointing us to when, amidst His pain and suffering, He insured His Mother would not be without family to love and protect her?   “But if any do not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their own family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.”  1Timothy 5:8  (GNT)   Wouldn’t it be a blessing to all family members, if each and every one of us became less wrapped up in protecting our careers and more swaddled in taking care of each other?   

     Before we set out to prove to the world how much we deserve positions of leadership, honor and glory, may we all first insure our families, and all their needs, rank forefront in our hearts and deeds.   None (not one of us) can save humanity as Christ did on Calvary; but all of us (each and every one) are called to love, secure and protect our families, just as Christ did that Good Friday long, long ago.