Others-Centered

Others-centered. In a world that tells us to “have it our way” and sings about “I did it my way”, there are those that put others before themselves. Mothers usually spend most of their lives putting the needs of their family before their own needs. But that is not how the world would have us think, they would want us to make sure our needs are met and that we are satisfied. That brings us to the third phrase of Christ while He was hanging on the Cross to die.

“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.” - John 19:26-27.  As He hung in agony from the torture of being beaten and flogged and nailed to a cross, he was concerned about the wellbeing of His own mother.

It seems as though Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, may have already died and Jesus, being his mother’s firstborn, had taken over the role of providing for his widowed mother. With His impending death, He makes sure that the well-being of His mother will be settled. He appoints John, the only disciple that was at the Cross, to be a son to His mother and take care of her. He turns to His mother and lets her know that John was now her son.

I cannot imagine being in that position and not being concerned for my own well-being, but Jesus shows us what it means to be others-centered. He shows what the heart of being “like” Him is all about. He put His own needs aside and made sure that the future needs of His mother were secured.

It should make us look at our own lives to see if we are more self-centered than we are others-centered. It’s a hard road to walk, but that is the road Christ asked us to walk. We are to lay down our lives and pick up His Cross and follow Him.

Have a great day and God bless.