Tucked in the middle of the seven sayings of the Saviour on the Cross where the death of Jesus Christ is described as both natural and unnatural and supernatural is the text, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother…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”. John 19:25-27
Here of late, I am understanding the value of being where you gotta be. Mary, the mother of Jesus and the disciple were in position - sticking with her son to the very end, which caused them to be seen by Jesus. Jesus, though dying would show that there is a balance necessary for Kingdom greatness and its found in the Family. Jesus, also though dying shows that in the middle of your lowest/highest assignment, most difficult, most painful, most trying time…there is opportunity to bless someone else. The text says Jesus looked at the woman and said, “Behold” . In other words pay attention, look at, notice that in my dying for the sins of the world, I want also to speak to balance and honour.
Mary understood “You Gotta Be Where You Gotta Be” - Jesus saw her and then caused others to see her. For seeing brings about a responsibility.
1. He spoke to honour, no matter what you are experiencing, take time to notice, esteem, care for your parents. In his case, his mother. You might be president or pastor, teacher or trainer, milkman or mail man, honour your parents. W hat happens when a man lives in an environment where his mother is not honoured nor esteemed? His life will be like that of the prodigal son - in all of that text there is no mention of the boy’s mother. So he ends up going too far, spending too much, staying too long before he gets back home. But when he gets back - though not mentioned, I believe it was his mother that preserved the ring, the robe and the sandals and as well, cooked the banquet meal to celebrate his return. Perhaps he would not have ever left (prematurely) had someone in the house said, “Behold, your mother” and then understood what that really meant.
Why do sons need mothers? It is said that boys don’t do what Daddy says do… they do what Daddy does. Often emulating and imitating their daddy, can cancel their Kingdom reservation. Some character flaws and life styles will cause a man to miss their kingdom inheritance. Need proof?Ephesians 5:35 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” A missing mama, can cause you to miss your destiny.
Jesus knowing this says to his mother, “Behold thy Son” and to his brother and friend, “Behold they mother”. What God was really doing was assigning Mary, a woman, a mother in the Kingdom to teach sons in the Kingdom. Look at Proverbs 31:1 “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that His mother taught him”.
Whether from a pulpit in the synagogue, a seat at the kitchen table or at the foot of her bed, Mothers we must teach. Teaching brings order and in order there is safety, protection and provision. Teach a man that whatever you are, you create. Teach a man life skills, morals, character, ethics and integrity. What must we teach? Teach a man to never miss an opportunity to honour and respect your mother. Tell him she goes beyond conception, birthing and feeding. There is a place in a man’s life that only a mother can reach; his heart. In reaching his heart, his spirit and body is impacted.
In the beginning, God pulled or formed woman out of man. Thereafter, he pulled and pushed men out of women. In the Kingdom, God uses women to pull kings out of men. This is best illustrated in Proverbs 31. Even on the cross, Jesus seeks to illustrate balance, in the family. The mother teaches a man what a king looks like, how a king behaves and how he lives.
Proverbs 31:2-31 lays it out for men and sons that are reachable and teachable: Kings in the Kingdom must understand don’t give your strength to women if you do you will end up bald, blind and bound!
Come here and testify Samson; Don’t drink wine, nor let your princes drink wine - you know what happens when you get drunk, you might just impregnate your own daughters and start a new generation of Moabites. Understand that there is a place for strong drink, those ready to perish, heavy hearts to forget his poverty and remember misery no more-to build up their blood because life is in the blood Speak up righteously for those who are dumb, unwise, unskilled and unknowledgeable so that they don’t destruct Learn to open your mouth and judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Know how to find and identify a virtuous woman because her price is far above rubies. When you run into a diamond and can’t afford her, understand when you go to her owner (the Lord) and ask him what she costs, when he says a price that you can’t afford…sit her back down on the shelf, because she’s not going on sale. Not a virtuous woman...
Know that when you find a virtuous woman, your heart can safely trust in her; know that she will do you good and not evil all the days of her life; (so don’t get rid of her before she dies), Understand her commerce ability to seek out wool, flax and to work willingly with her hands. Know that she will travel a mile to get a good sale and bring food from afar for her family. Sometimes that travel will take her to a job on the way to the store. She’s not lazy, she gets up early and takes care of those who help her take care of the household - in other words she is kind and thankful for the helpers given her.
She’s entrepreneurial, knows how to purchase real estate and land, she plants seeds today for tomorrows harvest in the vineyard She has strength around her loins to protect matters of the heart and her arms to help lift you when you are down She can take raw materials and turn them into classic and classy articles of fashion and design She does not ignore the poor but reaches out to help the needy She’s not afraid of the winter seasons in life, but covers and dresses her family for the storms She dresses appropriately, she’s not a street woman in a saint’s suit thinking that’s all she has to put on to cover her seedy, ungodly pass. She puts on purple, which represents royalty. She knows she’s your queen. She’s so incredible that she makes sure you are known in the gates-places where decisions are made in your city.
Strength and honour and joy live in her closet When she opens her mouth, she does so with wisdom and kindness. Her children arise up, not go down and when they arise, they call her blessed and her husband does also.
King Lemuel’s mother told him when you find a woman like this know that she excels them all. The woman, the mother of the King, concludes her instructions “favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but get you a woman that feareth the Lord, respects and honors the Lord and she shall be praised”.
Jesus was setting all of that in order, just because the woman, his mother was present at the Cross. So understand You Gotta Be Where You Gotta Be and because she was there, Jesus saw her, noticed her and then assigned her to continue mothering in the kingdom.
He looks at John... and because he showed up, he gets the benefit of Jesus’ mother and her profound teaching as she prepares him for the Kingdom of God.
Woman... behold your Son. Son, behold your mother. It all happened, because You Gotta Be Where You Gotta Be!
Dr Wanda A. Turner