Our Hope Everlasting
Scripture Passage: John 19:23-30 (NASB)
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.
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 then 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!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
SUMMARY
The soldiers divided Jesus’ garments among them, and for His clothing they casted lots. Near the cross, there were His mother and other women who had followed Him. Jesus said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” (v. 26) Then, He said to His disciple, “Behold, your mother!” (v. 27) Jesus, knowing all had been accomplished, said, “I am thirsty.” (v. 28) When He received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” (v. 30) and He gave up His spirit.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Through the eyes of the beloved disciple John, I saw that Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures and His obedience of His last moments on the cross. Psalm 22 says that He was surrounded by bulls, roaring lions, and dogs. The chief priests, teachers of the law, rulers, and soldiers mocked, despised and pierced His hands and feet, while Satan preyed on and opened his mouth wide against Him. Meanwhile, Jesus remembered that the Father was His God from the time He was in His mother’s womb. He gently said goodbye to His mother by giving her to John that he may take her into his own household. His bones were out of joint, His heart melted away, His strength dried up and His tongue stuck to the roof of His mouth. “It is finished!” Jesus drank the cup that no one else could drink and He finished it.
I can not imagine how painful it was for Mary to witness her Son crucified and suffering on the cross. My heart aches to see my family and friends who suffer in pain physically or emotionally. Mary and the women who followed Jesus all seemed like they held on to the hope and truth that Jesus promised them — His resurrection. I reflect on my little faith and my lack of perseverance to wait on God. I often find myself easily giving up in pressing on with prayers and petitions for my loved ones. Today I am reminded again to praise God for what He has done and will be doing in our life.
APPLICATION
When my loved ones endure in their pain and distress everyday, I will continue to pray that God will deliver them and be not far from them. When they are thirsty, I will put my trust in God that He will sustain them. When I feel like giving up on interceding for them, I will go to Psalm 22 and hold fast to the promise God gives us — “For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.”
PRAYER
Thank You, Jesus, for Your love and sacrifice on the cross for us. I pray that the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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