God cares for his people

Springtime in Alaska is beautiful. They say that when the birch leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear it is time to plant the garden! You can almost watch the leaves turn green. The swans are back. The ducks are beautiful. The days are long. It is a great time of year.

God’s providence is a reminder of His existence. Acts 14:17 says, “He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” God’s faithful provision is evidence of His goodness. Our plan today is to plant the high tunnel.

This week I was reading 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” God always cares for His people. Jesus’ care for His people is well illustrated in John 19:25-27. As Jesus hung on the cross He provided for His mother.

Imagine that terrible awful day in the life of Jesus. It began about 2 AM. From 2 AM to 5:30 AM He endured three religious trials. From 5:30 AM until about 8:30 AM there were three civil trials. He appeared before Pontius Pilate and then Herod Antipas and then Pontius Pilate again. Pilate scourged Him. The Roman cohort (600 men) beat Him and spit on Him and drove the crown of thorns into His skull.

He carried the crossbeam of the cross to Golgotha. The Romans crucified Jesus. Crucifixion was a painful, slow, humiliating death. As Jesus hung on the cross He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). God the Father answered the prayer of His Son. By 3 PM the four Roman soldiers assigned to the crucifixion detail- including the Roman centurion- believed on Jesus (Matthew 27:54).

Jesus told the rebel on the cross next to Him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). He promised salvation to a repentant sinner.

In John 19:25-27 Jesus provided for His mother. Most scholars believe Jesus’ adopted father, Joseph, died shortly after Jesus trip to Jerusalem at age 12. The life of a widow in first century Israel was very difficult. In Mark 6:3 Jesus is described as “the carpenter.” After His father Joseph’s death Jesus worked hard to provide for His widowed mother and His brothers and sisters. Mark 6:3 says that Jesus had four brothers- James, Joses, Judas and Simon. He also had at least two sisters.

Imagine Jesus at a young age working hard to provide for His mother and leading the family. As the oldest Son He was responsible to provide and lead the family. A carpenter in ancient Israel worked with wood and stone.

When Jesus died on the cross His brothers were not believers. At the time of the unpardonable sin His brothers rejected His claims. Mark 3:21 records, “When His own people (His family) heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses.’” The phrase “take custody” means “to seize by force.” They thought He had lost His mind.

Near the end of His earthly life His brothers encouraged Jesus to go to Judea and die (John 7:1-5). After the resurrection His brothers came to saving faith. His brother James wrote the Book of James in the New Testament. His brother Judas wrote the Book of Jude.

But when Jesus was dying on the cross He would not entrust the welfare of His mother to unsaved men. John 19:26-27 says, “When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (John) standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”

These words may seem foreign to us but they are the words of a first century adoption ceremony. John adopted Mary as his own mother. He cared for her until she died. One tradition says that John refused to leave Jerusalem until Mary died 11 years later. Another tradition says that John and Mary lived in Ephesus and her tomb is in Ephesus today.

Many scholars believe John was Jesus cousin (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25). Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to her closest believing male relative.

The term “woman” is best understood as “dear lady” or “dear woman.” Jesus loved His mother. He basically said, “The most important thing is not that you gave birth to Me. The most important thing is that you are My disciple. I am your Lord and Savior.”

It is incredible that as Jesus was dying on the cross (just before our sins were laid on Him) He provided for His mother. As believers we are adopted into God’s family at salvation. We can cast our anxieties upon Him because He cares for us. The beautiful Alaska weather is a reminder of Christ’s love. Won’t you follow Him today?

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship.