All right, turn with me back
to John 19. We've been going through this
holy transaction, this holy, holy, holy transaction. And we've seen how within a few
hours, these chapters in John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, in
just a few hours, an evening, a night, a morning,
midday. We've seen that our Lord instituted
His supper. He broke the night in which He
was betrayed. He broke bread and He instituted
His table with His disciples. After that was over, then He
went into the garden and He called on God His Father while Sin of
his people was being pressed into him. And then he allowed himself to
be taken. And he allowed himself to be
put on trial. And he allowed himself to be
convicted. And he allowed himself to be
crucified. He allowed all those things to
happen. Now, where we are tonight, he's hanging there. They crucified
him. And he's hanging there. Verse
25 says, now there stood by the cross
of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife
of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. Now there is so much that I wanted
to say about this verse. I got kind of sidetracked. It
was so much, it started to distract us from the message. So I'm not
going to say it, but I'll give you the cliff notes. There's
a few things about this that we need to understand. First
of all, Mary is not the co-redemptress of God's people. This world is being lied to. I mean, this world is being lied
to. The Pope, that wicked man, the
Cardinals, all of the men who dress up in black dresses and
white collars, they are lying to poor sinners. They're lying
to them. And I didn't understand exactly
what they believed about Mary. And so I looked it up and I was
so repulsed by it. I was so repulsed by what I saw. I thought, I'm just not even
going to get into all that. That's not the message, is it? But the
fact of the matter is, is Mary is not the co-redeemer. She is
not the co-redeemer. Jesus Christ was hanging on that
cross by himself. And she was standing at the foot
of that cross just like every other sinner in need. That's
where she was. One mediator between God and man, right? Just one.
Now, I do believe that she was one of God's saints. I do believe
that. And I'll show you why at the
end of this message, why I believe that. But they call her Saint
Mary. I believe she is one of God's saints. I really do. The
other thing that really struck me was that Mary was a great
example of the grace of God during a trial. There she stands. It records that he's hanging
there on that cross and there she stands. And if you imagine
this just for a minute from her point of view, right there is
hanging who she believes, the one that she knows to be her son, the one that she loved, her son. And she sees what he's already been
through. She's been watching his torture, how he's been treated. She sees the agony that he's
in. And she sees the fact that this crowd, she's in a crowd
that absolutely hates him. They are walking by spitting
on him and cursing him. It's hostile. It's very hostile. It's a hostile situation. Violent,
violent situation. And she's remembering what was
told to her right after the Lord was born. Hold your place right
here and look with me at Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2, a man named Simeon
is telling Joseph and Mary some things about the Lord. And in
verse 35, he told Mary, yea, a sword shall pierce through
thy own soul also. He's telling them this child
was brought in. At that point, the Lord was eight
days old. Simeon sees this child and he's
telling them some things and he said, this is going to kill
you. This is going to cut to the heart. It's just going to
slay you. Seeing him in agony is going to bring agony to you
and it brings agony to us, don't it? Seeing everything he had to endure
for our sin. Oh, what agony that brings to
a, to a center who knows he's hanging there for me because
of me. But the whole time that Mary stood at the foot of that
cross, it does not say that she uttered one word of questioning
what God was doing. Isn't that something? Not one word of questioning what
God was doing. Luke's account says that there
were people there who were weeping, they were sorrowing, and I'm
sure that All those who were standing there, Mary and Mary's
sister and Mary Magdalene and John, all of them were doing
the same thing. There is nothing wrong with crying.
There's nothing wrong with crying, inside or out. How could a true
sinner look at the cross and not absolutely weep over his
sin? How could a sinner look at that cross and not weep over
his sin? But it does not say that she
was in hysterics. It does not say that she was
inconsolable. She's standing there sorrowing,
but standing there watching and waiting. That's the grace of
God. You know that? That's the grace
of God. When a trial comes, to have the grace to wait on the
Lord. Just watch and see. Moses said, stand still and see
the salvation of the Lord. That is God's grace, and it is
sufficient. It truly is sufficient. Well,
back in John 19, three Marys were standing there. They're
all named Mary. Did you notice that? All of them.
Verse 25 says, There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother,
her name is Mary, and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas,
And it's not believed that there were two girls in the same family
named Mary. It's not believed that they were
actual sisters. It's believed that the wife of
Cleophas was Joseph's sister, which would be her sister-in-law,
just like I'm married to a Hannah and my sister is a Hannah. Same
thing, sister-in-laws. And then there was Mary Magdalene.
Three Marys. Every person in this verse who
was standing at the foot of the cross was named Mary. They're
all named Mary. It's Mary, Mary, Mary. Mary means
bitterness. That's what the name means. Bitterness.
It means, the name means their rebellion. Their rebellion. You know we have names and we
find the meanings of them and all of us want it to mean something
great. But here's the reality of it. Here's the reality of it. They
were all standing there at the foot of this cross in their rebellion. Now the Lord said, I've given
you a new name. He gave Jacob the name Israel. That means prince
with God. I've changed your name. In Christ,
you're a prince with God. But representing every single
one of us, they were all standing there in their rebellion. They're
all looking at him hanging on that cross. And the reason he's
hanging on that cross was because of their rebellion. That's one
of the things that they say about Mary, is she was sinless, just
like the Lord. She wasn't. She wasn't. He was hanging there for my rebellion,
and your rebellion, and her rebellion. He drank that cup of bitterness
because bitterness is what we are. That's the reason. Verse
25 says, 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 disciples 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 disciple is John, the one
who wrote this gospel. He would never say his own name.
John is standing there, and the Lord said, Woman, behold thy
son. He said to John, Behold thy mother. And he took her home. Now I do
believe that the Lord told Mary to now consider John to be her
son. And I know that he did tell John
to now consider Mary to be his mother. And he told John, you
take her and you take care of her the rest of her days on this
earth. And he did. He took her into his own home.
And we could see in this the blessing of our Lord in providing
everything we need. Before he died on that cross,
he provided for Mary everything she needed. Physically, materially,
everything in this life the Lord will provide. We could also see
the blessing in doing for our fellow believers. Here John,
he takes her in and he takes care of her. And what a blessing
that is to do it for each other. Our Lord said, inasmuch as you've
done it unto the least of these my brethren, you've done it unto
me. But there's something more wonderful here that I want us
to all see. Everything that our Lord said
points us to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Even the things
He said while He was being crucified. The Lord of glory sees Mary standing
there. He sees bitterness standing there. He sees their rebellion standing
there, looking to the cross. He sees Mary standing there and
she's afraid, you know, she's afraid, afraid of this mob, afraid
for him scared. And she's crying and she's. hurting. Verse 26 says, when Jesus therefore
saw his mother and the disciples standing by whom he loved. He's looking down from his cross
on somebody he loves. For love's sake, he sees this
sinner hurting. And for love's sake, verse 26
says, He said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son. Behold thy son. Look and live. Look and live. Behold, see what's taking place
right here in front of you. You're sorrowing, you're scared,
you're afraid. Behold thy son. Remember the
things you've heard. Remember who I am and what I'm
doing. And I say the same thing to me. And I'll say it to you too. Remember
who he is. Remember what he has done. Let the truth well up in you,
spring up in you. Ponder these things in your heart.
I love how it always says that about Mary. She pondered these
things in her heart. There are some things that Mary
knew about him. There are some things we know
about him. Go with me over to Luke chapter 1. I believe our little ones already
know about this. They were here this morning.
Luke chapter 1, look at verse 30. And the angel said unto her,
Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold,
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall
call his name Savior." Savior. She knew that the name Jesus
means Savior. Luke 1 is where the angel came
to Mary. Matthew 1 is where the angel
came to Joseph. And he told Joseph, call his
name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Every
time Mary called his name, She was reminded, that's the
Savior. That was His name, Savior. Every time she called His name.
Verse 32 right here says, He shall be great. She knew that. The angel told
her that. He's going to be great. That
word means exceedingly great, the greatest. It means loud. I like that definition, loud,
mighty, strong. Verse 32 says, and shall be called
the son of the highest. Mary was told that. That's the
son of the highest. Verse 32 says, and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David. She knew this is the heir to
the throne of David. She was of the house and lineage
of David. And she knew this is the king
of Israel. She's of Israel, therefore she
knew, this is my king. This is my king, right here.
Verse 33, the angel told her, he shall reign over the house
of Jacob, the sinner, forever. Forever. We've been told things
like, I'll never leave you, haven't we? And then something happens
and we say, where are you? He already said he'd never leave
us. We've preached things like the Lord will provide. And then
we say things like, I don't know if I'm going to make it. She was told things. He's going
to reign over the sinner forever, Mary. You understand that? I
mean forever. Verse 33 says, And of his kingdom
there shall be no end. An angel from heaven told her
that face to face. No end. Here she's standing there
looking at this, thinking this is the end. No, it's not. There's no end. Verse 34, then said Marian to
the angel, how shall this be seeing I know not a man? And
the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy ghost shall come
upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. She knew this is not sinful flesh. This is not flesh that can die. He cannot die. I'm of sinful flesh, not him. He's going to be born by way
of the Holy Ghost. She knew that. Verse 35, And the angel answered
and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. How clear is this angel being
with her? Mary, this is the Son of God. There was no parable here. This is the Son of God. Not only
will He be called the Son of the Highest, He shall be called
the Son of God. Hold your place right there and
go to Matthew 1. This is where the angel came
to Joseph. It says in verse 18, now the
birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when, as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found
with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being
a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his
people from their sins. Now all this was done that it
might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being
interpreted is God with us." God with us. How many times do you think Mary
opened up Isaiah, the book of Isaiah, to chapter 7 and read
verse 14? How many times do you think she
did that? That's what that just quoted. Just listen to this. This is the exact wording. Isaiah
7, 14 says, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign.
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call
his name Emmanuel." How many times do you think she opened
up that page right there and read that page? Isn't that amazing? She knew this is
God. This is God. God is with us. Luke chapter 1 verse 37 says,
with God nothing shall be impossible. Nothing is impossible with God.
How can this be? Here's how. God is the doer of
it. Verse 38, And Mary said, Behold
the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to that
word. And the angel departed from her, and Mary arose in those
days, and went into the hill country with haste into a city
of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when
Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, John leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she spake
out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and whence is this to me
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? She heard Elizabeth
say, You're the mother of my Lord. my Lord." And then chapter 2 says, look at
chapter 2 verse 19 it says, Mary kept all these things and pondered
them in her heart. She pondered all these things
in her heart. When he was eight days old, they brought him to
the temple to be circumcised according to the law. And the
Holy Ghost brought a man named Simeon. And the Holy Ghost had
revealed to that man that he would not die until he had seen
the Lord's Christ. And that's the same case for
every one of them, every one of us. Every child of God, every
elect sinner will not die until he sees the Lord's Christ. So right here in Luke chapter
2 verse 28, the Simeon saw Mary and Joseph
bringing this baby and he said, may I see your child? And they
handed him the Lord. And verse 28, then took he him
up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, Now lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have
seen thy salvation." Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming
of the Lord. Mary's standing there, there's
her child, she's standing there watching this man, listening
to this man. He said, Ma'am, this is God's
salvation. This is God's salvation. How did Simeon know that? Same
way we know it. The Holy Ghost revealed it to
him. And then there was a woman right
after that in the temple named Anna. She heard all this that
was going on and she ran in. Verse 38, she coming in that
instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him
to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. She looked right
at Mary and said, this is the Redeemer. The angel came to her
and said, this is God. Simeon grabbed him and said,
this is God's salvation. Anna comes running in crying,
this is the Redeemer. Right after that, well, 12 years
later, the Lord was in the temple, and they came and found him.
They were scared, and he said, Don't you know I must be about
my father's business? She knew he was not talking about
Joseph. Look right here in Luke chapter
2, verse 49. He said unto them, How is it
that you sought me? Wished you not that I must be
about my father's business? Do you see how it says, He said
unto them? He said to Joseph too. He looked
right at Joseph and said, I must be about my father's business.
Mary saw his life. She saw his goodness, his perfection. She noticed that he grew up with
no rebellion. She heard him preach. She watched
him heal. She knew that he had set his
face like a flint to that cross. She could see it. He is set on
going to that cross. She could see that he had willingly
done every bit of this. And God in mercy right here shows
her why. He looked right at her and he
said, Woman, behold thy son. In this chapter we've seen, Behold
the man. Behold your king. He said, Behold
thy son. Everything you've ever heard,
everything that was prophesied to you has come to pass, every
bit of it. Not one word has failed, that's what he's saying. Look
unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I'm
God and there's none else. There's none else. Did she? Did she behold him? Did she believe on the crucified
Christ? Go to Acts chapter one, we'll
close with this, Acts chapter one. Our Lord has just been taken
up. They watched him go up. Acts
chapter 1 verse 12 says, Then returned they unto Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath
day's journey. And when they were come in, They
went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and James, and
John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James
the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother
of James. These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication with the women and marry the
mother of Jesus and with his brethren." The Lord had mercy
on him. When the Lord commands salvation,
he always gets the sinner. It wasn't an option. He didn't
say, if you would like to, behold your son. He said, woman, behold
your son. There is such salvation and such
faith and such comfort and such rest and such provision at the foot of the cross. If
the Lord would let us stay right there at the foot of the cross
every time we meet together as we walk out and we dwell on these
things, Lord let me stay right there at the foot of the cross.
Everything I need is right there at the foot of the cross. I titled
this, I Pray I'm a Mary. I know I'm the rebellious one.
I know I'm bitterness. I pray I'm standing there looking
at the foot of the cross. I pray, he says to me, behold
me. May God make us all Marys and
bring us to him for everything we need, every single thing.
All right, let's stand together.