Why would Jesus focus on his mother while on the cross? Is family important during a crisis? How can we take care of our own families?
Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares why taking care of our natural and spiritual families is important for believers. In this message, we learn key ways that we can take care of our families.
John 19:25-27 “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
Taking care of natural and spiritual family is a theme found all throughout scripture:
NATURAL FAMILY
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Don’t treat family based on their facts or your feelings; treat them based on the truth of what God says about them.
Mark 7:9-13 “Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
You can’t dishonor your family in the name of godliness because honoring your family is godly. If you have ungodly parents, honor the position, not the person.
SPIRITUAL FAMILY
Ephesians 2:19 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Christians help everyone, but we focus on our natural family and our spiritual family first.
How do we take care of family?
- Give something.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
What if you woke up tomorrow and only had those things that you had given away in the past? - Do something.
Mark 10:44-45 “Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The more you serve, the more you look like Jesus. Serving others turns selfishness into selflessness. - Say something.
Prov 16:24 – “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Your ability to speak isn’t just a gift from God FOR you, but a gift to others THROUGH you.
James 1:26 – If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
Your words can help or hurt. Don’t undo your good deeds with your speech.
Final Question:
How can you take care of your family during this crisis? Your spiritual family? Your community?