PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 31 August 25th to 31st 2008.
Reading – John Chapter 19:25-27.

“Friends Who Care!”

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John Chapter 19: verses 25 to 27. (New International Version).

I always remember the hush in our family when I was 15 years of age and my father was lost at sea. It was hard to determine whether he was lost or had died, but for my family we never really talked about it much at all. I guess we were hoping he might turn up one day, or end up on an island. My parents had been separated for 4 years when this happened and I didn’t see my father a lot in these years.
As a minister you share with people through the death of family and friends and help organise the funeral and support those grieving. It’s hard to understand the extent of grief we have when we lose someone special and until you go through it, you never know. It is well known that to lose a family member we love is the most difficult loss we can have.

In recent weeks we have been going through the moments of Jesus’ arrest trial and crucifixion. We are at the moment when Jesus is about to die. He is concerned for his mother as she watches him die an agonising death on the cross. Jesus shows amazing strength and love to see to it that his mother is cared for by John as he is about to die. Mary is also accompanied by other women who are supporting her and each other.
Jesus shows us here that one of the greatest supports we can have when we lose someone we love is friends. Jesus ensures that his mother will be cared for by linking John, one of the disciples and her mother together in support.

One thing I lacked when my father was lost was family support. It was no one’s fault, we just didn’t talk about what had happened. On occasions I also see families fall apart when a key member of the family dies. Families can be torn apart by fighting over estates. How sad this is when this happens. It is something that Jesus warns us about when he says: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke Chapter 12: verse 15 NIV) 

The best way to get through grief and loss is to have family and friends around you. It is not so much what they may say that helps us, but by just being there with us.  This is not to say that there are times when you will want to ne alone, but having friends helps to heal the wounds over time.

Prayer
Our Father, who cares for us, thanks for those who walk with us when we grieve and lose someone we love. Help us to be on the lookout for those we can walk with through the valley of the shadow of death. Amen.

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