He Will Meet all our Needs, Just Ask Mary!

by Fay Barlow
(Lexington, Sc USA)

John 19: 25-27 now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

There has been so much talk in the news for the past few days about the financial crisis we seem to be in. Even the person with a confident strength in faith, may feel a bit thrown off by the situation in our nation. I am asking myself some questions that I’ve never had to think of before.

I guess we all have a basic need to be safe. We all want to know that we will be taken care of in a time of crisis. Whether that crisis is a spiritual one or a financial one.

But here is Jesus, dying on a cross. Bearing the most horrific of deaths, crucifixion. And he sees his mother, Mary, along with her sister and Mary Magdalene, standing under the cross. I am sure the scene was one filled with utter cries and wails as these three women, who loved Jesus in their own unique way, braved the jeers of the crowd and the humiliation of men being tortured before their eyes.

And there, Mary, Jesus’ mother, seemingly alone in the world. She who bore this Jesus, who heard the voice of the angel pronouncing his birth and his life. The doubts may have filled her mind through the years, along with whispers and rumors, but her heart stood firm in her love for her child.

But here He was, gasping for each breath, and He makes a statement that causes me to wonder at, while filling me with wonder of.

In the mist of his crisis, He is concerned about the care of His mother. He makes sure that she is taken care of. Maybe this was a common thing in those times. Maybe because Jesus was the first born and His earthly father was dead, He had the responsibility of taking care of his mother. These are all good reasons to pronounce the exchange of care with regard to Mary.

But how many sons would be thinking of anything at a moment like this?

Only the Son of God would, I dare to say.

And why am I surprised at this? Jesus, who lived His entire life in loving and caring for the spiritual and physical needs of others, would have the mind and heart to know our deepest needs. I would imagine that somewhere in Mary’s head, the reality of her future was visible. Her heart may have been asking questions regarding her well being after her first born son was gone, but I’m sure she never made those fears known.

And Jesus, who knows all our fears and conquers them through Himself, may have been responding to her basic need. In the midst of his own suffering, His focus was not on Himself, but on a very humanistic need. To be taken care of.

It gives me such joy to know that Jesus can meet my basic needs and calm my heart to trust in Him. He knows my fears and he knows the future. And there is no condemnation in wanting security, whether spiritually or physically. Or, in our case, financially.