Share Your Pains With Him

May 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Share Your Pains With Him

I read a news article recently which said the mother of a man accused of murder “wailed” at court. Certainly, pain felt by the victim’s family had to be at least as bad. What grief. The public comments by mothers of the dead are often powerful, expressing an agony others do not know or feel.

When the Lord Jesus was on the cross, we know how Mary’s soul was pierced with a sword (Lk. 2:35). She had, during His life, treasured her Son in her heart (vv.19,51). Now at Calvary, Jesus was dying after suffering abuse so great that He was probably nearly unrecognizable (Isa. 52:14). Mary, His mother, was there, near enough to her Son to hear Him speak to her and to John, as He committed her care to him (Jn. 19:26-27).

Mothers are special. We see this in the Lord’s interactions with His mother. He showed her respect and honor throughout His life here. We need to do the same. The Ten Commandments, given to the nation of Israel, include the instruction to “honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12 NKJV). Ephesians 6:2, which follows a verse that says to “obey your parents in the Lord,” adds that to honor one’s father and mother “is the first commandment with promise.” Proverbs, a book of wise sayings, instructs us, “Do not despise your mother when she is old” (Prov. 23:22).

Simeon was able to prophesy about the pain Mary would feel as her Son died, but he did not enter into it. Mothers, and those desiring to be so but haven’t been blessed in this way, have struggles other people do not fully understand. Yet we are assured that the Lord – the One who created us – does feel our pain. Let us walk through faith in nearness to Him, sharing with Him even our deepest, most private, concerns and pains. He will give comfort and peace as we leave matters with Him.

We may remember the disciples being in a boat in the middle of the sea, the wind blowing against them, while Jesus was on the land. Even from there, He saw them, came to them and said, “‘Do not be afraid.’ Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed ... beyond measure” (Mk. 6:50-51).

By Paul Alberts