Mothers and their sons

Last week I attended an Easter service on Good Friday with my special sister-friend, Miss Angie Ka-stone. This was one special day because there were hymns that I love and several readings in line with Easter. Of all the readings, one particular one still stands out for me.

John 19:25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home

Jesus cared for His mum so much such that during His painful last moments as human, He has time to assign a caregiver for Mary. I pictured the love in His eyes as He looked at her. He understood her pain. Maybe because Simeon had already told her of the pain to expect of Christ’s life on earth. Jesus was there to comfort her.

Luke 33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Previously in His ministry, Jesus once spotted a woman who had just lost her only son. In those days, sons were the ‘it’, compared to today. See below how that went

Luke 7: 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”…

Jesus saw this unnamed mother’s pain, felt compassion and restored her son to life. Glory to God! Only a God like mine wipes tears with His great love.

Closer home, I have looked into the eyes of mothers upon losing a child. Two mothers come to mind. My grandmother Jones Imbenzi, at the passing of my mother. I cried a lot during that time, not so much for my loss, but at my grandmother’s loss. She had just gone blind with age, and thus could not view her second last and most favourite daughter one last time. Her tears and pain tore at my heart like never before.  She kept asking God why He had not taken her seeing she was very old but instead took her young child. Less than 18 months later, my grandmother rested and joined her child in heaven for both were believers. That must have been a beautiful reunion.

The second mother is my sister and friend Sylvia. Loss of baby Jayden was devastating. Looking into her eyes was heartbreaking. The loss she felt cannot be described. The ache was too much to fathom. These three women, Mary, Jones and Sylvia are proof that despite the loss, Jesus is right there to offer comfort that no other soul can never offer. Jesus is a friend, a personal friend who sees our pain and reaches out in His love to offer untold peace. He is the reason we can afford to close our eyes to sleep at night in the midst of pain and hard times.

If I wasn’t in a relationship with this Jesus, I do not know what would have become of me.