INTRODUCTION: THE CROSS OF JESUS IS A SYMBOL OF LOVE, SACRIFICE, AND FORGIVENESS. BUT JESUS WAS NOT ALONE ON CALVARY'S HILL THAT DAY. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO STOOD "IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS." SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WISHED TO SEE THE DEED TO IT'S CONCLUSION, FALSELY BELIEVING THAT THEY COULD DESTROY ALL THAT JESUS STOOD FOR. SOME WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE ORDERED TO BE THERE. THE CURIOUS WERE THERE. 

BUT THERE WERE THE FEW WHO FOLLOWED JESUS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OF HIS
MINISTRY THAT LED TO GOLGOTHA. INTO THIS CATEGORY FALL THE DISCIPLES SPOKEN
OF IN JOHN 19:25-27.

"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the {wife} of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his
mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own {home}."

The two who stand out in this passage are Mary, Jesus' mother, and the "disciple whom he loved." What can we learn from them?

BODY

I. WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM EARLIER PASSAGES?

A. Mary, the mother of Jesus.

1. She, of course, was blessed with the privilege of bringing the Messiah into the world.

a. Luke 1:26-33, 41-45

2. She was there at the first recorded miracle of our Lord.

a. John 2:1-10

3. She is referred to in Matthew 12:46,47 as desiring to see Jesus during his preaching.

4. There can be no doubt as to her belief in Jesus and his mission.

B. The disciple whom Jesus loved.

1. A designation given to the apostle John.

a. It is used extensively in the gospel of John.

1. John 13:23- "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."

2. John 18:16- "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they
have laid him."

3. John 20:2- "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they
have laid him."

4. John 21:7- "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt {his} fisher's coat {unto him}, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea."

5. John 21:20- "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?"

b. Historians are unanimous in their designating John.

c. It is quite likely that John never gave his name, because he did not seek to promote himself.

2. He was one of Jesus' inner circle of apostles.

a. Matthew 17:1- "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,"

b. Mark 14:33- "And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;"

II. LOOK AT MARY, IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

A. Look at the motherly love of Mary.

1. While most abandoned Jesus, his mother stood by him.
2. No words of her's were recorded by the four gospels, there were no need for words.

a. Every parent who has lost a child knows why she was at the cross. 

b. She was there to be with the child of her flesh as he went through his worst suffering.

c. Words penned by Rudyard Kipling are fitting here.

"If I were hanged on the highest hill, 
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine! 

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine! 
I know whose tears would come down to me, 
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine! 

If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o'mine, O mother o'mine!" 

d. It doesn't matter how unpopular Jesus might have been, how dangerous it would have been to be there, and how few stood by him, Mary was going to be there. 

3. How much better it would be if all mothers shared Mary's care for her son.

4. This contrasts with those who have lost their natural love for their children.

a. Romans 1:31- "...without natural affection"

B. It didn't matter how few were standing for the right, Mary was going to stand there.

1. We need more men and women, who will not follow after the multitude to do evil, but will cleave to the truth of God's word.

2. Exodus 23:12- "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to {do} evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest {judgment}:" 

C. Look at the sorrow of Mary.

1. It is quite likely that Mary didn't fully understand why Jesus must die.

2. But regardless of this, it must have been bitter for her to see her oldest son suffering in agony on the cross.

3. This was something that she knew from the beginning.

4. Luke 2:34,35- "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this {child} is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

D. In Mary at the cross we see the human side of our Lord.

1. Jesus would not commit his soul to his Father without seeing to the care of his mother.

2. This shows Jesus' great love for his mother.

3. He obeyed the Law by honoring and caring for his mother.

a. Exodus 20:12- "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

b. Ephesians 6:1,2- Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)"

III. AND THEN THERE IS JOHN IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

A. Like Mary, this was the only place for John.

1. He remained loyal to the Lord, even in the most difficult time.

a. It was simply inconceivable that he would not be with the Master.

2. He walked with the Lord, every step of the way.

a. While the other disciples abandoned him, John followed Jesus through his trial.

b. John 18:15- "And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and {so did}another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest."

c. And unlike Peter, John never denied the Saviour.

3. John gives real meaning to confessing Christ.

a. Matthew 10:32,33- "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

B. John took on the responsibility for caring for Mary.

1. We can infer that Joseph had been dead for some time.

2. It is also important to note that Jesus passed over his brothers in entrusting this great responsibility.

a. Probably because they did not believe in him.

b. John 7:5- "For neither did his brethren believe in him."

3. John was trustworthy.

CONCLUSION: IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE WE SEE IN THE MIDST OF THE HORROR AND BITTERNESS OF THE CROSS. WHILE THERE IS BETRAYAL AND HATRED IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS, JOHN AND MARY SHOW US A PICTURE OF LOYALTY AND LOVE. 
 

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