Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: John 19:25-27

As Jesus hung on the Cross in excruciating physical, spiritual, mental and emotional pain, He extended an incredible honour to John. When He considered to whom He should entrust the physical and spiritual care of His mother, Mary, Jesus determined that His beloved disciple and friend, John, was the one faithful and trustworthy enough for the task. This speaks volumes about John and how he must have lived out the value of faithfulness during his 3-year discipleship journey.

Throughout their relationship, John had proved himself to be trustworthy and faithful. And now he was the only one of the twelve apostles standing at the foot of the cross with Mary and the other women. He would be the only apostle to witness first-hand as Jesus took His last breath. John was faithful to Jesus to the end; and Jesus knew he would continue to be faithful to Mary for Jesus’ sake.

John was not the only possible choice, of course. Jesus had surviving half-brothers who, from a human point of view, would have been the even more obvious ones to care for Mary. But it seems that Jesus chose John because of John’s faith in Jesus and his faithfulness to Jesus, over the last three years.

Lord, please forgive me for the times I have not been faithful to You as Your disciple, and for the times I have not lived out the value of faithfulness in my relationships with Your other children. Holy Spirit, please awaken a desire within me to live as a person of faithfulness, and produce it in me as a fruit of Your presence. Amen.