WEEK THREE FAMILY

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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 19:25-27

What is happening in this word from the cross (John 19:26-27) . . . is not about being nice to your mother. It is about the new community that comes into being through the power of Jesus. We often hear people say they can be religious without going to church … But the Christian community has a quality that the critiques do not take into consideration. When it is working the way it is supposed to, people are brought together who have absolutely nothing in common, who may have diametrically different views on things, who may even actively dislike each other … In giving his mother to the disciple, Jesus is causing a new relationship to come into existence that did not exist before … the disciple and mother represent the way that family ties are transcended in the church by the ties of the Spirit … Jesus is calling people into a new relationship with him and with one another.

Fleming Rutledge

Pause and ask God what he would have you fast from this week: meals, social media, being critical, television, etc.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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 19:23-27

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

…and to the disciple (Jesus said), “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians

3:12-17

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

…and to the disciple (Jesus said), “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved …

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

…and to the disciple (Jesus said), “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:3-21

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

…and to the disciple (Jesus said), “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said, “No, you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter replied, “Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:1-17

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.

PAUSE and acknowledge God’s presence with you. Thank him for seeing you and being with you.

…and to the disciple (Jesus said), “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:27

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:1-8

ASK God what do you want to say to me? What do you want me to see? What do you want me to believe? What do you want me to do?

LISTEN for God’s word to you from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

OBEY What is God inviting you to? What will you do today to apply this to your life?

WORSHIP JESUS for all he has revealed to you about himself.