Disciplines From the Cross: A Holy Week DevotionalSample

Ministry and Service

In our lives, we look at great, influential people, and their last words are very important—something we need to pay attention to. How much more should we pay attention to our Lord and Savior's words said on the cross while in excruciating pain and agony? In today’s passage, we go to John 19, where, right before Jesus died, he utters these words: “Woman, behold your son… behold your mother…”

This speaks of service. In a powerful display of responsibility, Jesus hands the responsibility of his mother, as the first son, over to John the disciple. Here is a cover of both social as well as spiritual care: Jesus is dying and, being the firstborn—a Jewish son—bears his responsibility towards his mother. We know that Jesus came to do the Father’s will, but He also ensured that his kin and kith, his people, his loved ones were taken care of.

This was displaying an act of service to them before his death. Sometimes, I used to wonder, why did Jesus do this now? He knew he would rise again; he could have done it later in greater detail. However, in his dying moments, his loved ones would feel the greatest sense of loss and despair. They were broken, mourning; they knew this was the end. This was the moment they needed that—they needed that love and affection; the assurance was most appropriate at that time.

So, just like Jesus, while we focus on being right with God and accomplishing what God has for us, we cannot neglect the people around us. This is a life of service that reflects Christ's care for his own people, for his own family.

So, let's make it a habit to consider who are the ones we are responsible for. Slow down. Think about it. Don't be distracted. Is it your family member? Is it someone at church? Someone at work? Someone who isn’t a believer yet? We don't exist in a bubble. We exist in a network of relationships, people, families that gives us our identity and our sense of belonging. God has put us in a family; God has put us in relationships, and ministry begins at home. Service begins to the people around us. And Jesus never forgot that; Jesus never ignored or neglected that, even from the cross.

Let's make it a habit to consider who are the ones we are responsible for. So, we turn around, and we look after our own. And we recognize that while we are focusing on God's mighty ministry and purposes for our lives, we take care of those around us. Many have done ministry at the neglect of service to their loved ones at home. Some have cared for their families and called it their ministry. Both are very different things, and we need to ensure we do both and don’t mistake one for another.

Take a moment to ponder on how you could be of service to someone in your community. Who needs my care? Who should I be existing for? Who should I care for? It's a great discipline to get us off ourselves, overcome ourselves, and actually exist for others, as a service, as a life for others.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank you that you have placed us intentionally wherever we are for a plan and purpose. Give us the wisdom and the understanding to do your ministry and serve those around us. Help those in ministry not to neglect those at home. Give them the same burden you had on that cross. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.