3D Devotional 6.17.19

Monday, June 17, 2019  John looks after Aunt Mary      John 19:25-27

At this time, last year, Barbara and I celebrated our 35th anniversary with a cruise to the Greek isles.  While there, we had the opportunity to visit the grave of the Mother Mary, the cave on Patmos Island, and the tomb of St. John.  Jesus, before dying on the Cross, entrusted the care of his mother to his disciple John.   Today’s 3D will explore that relationship between Mary and John.

3D Scripture Reading:    John 19:25-27

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 had a younger brother James. As the eldest son, it was Jesus responsibility to care for his mother.  To that end he selected John, not James to care for his mother.  Mary was actually an aunt to John.   In verse 27, Jesus instructs John to treat Mary as a mother.  John did.  In fact, he never left Mary.  Scholars believe that Jesus selected John over his brother James, because John would care for her better spiritually.  Regardless of the reason, it was an incredible act of faith and a life-long commitment for John.

After Jesus death, his followers were persecuted.  Stephen was stoned in 37 A.D. and James was beheaded four years later.  John and Mary fled to Turkey.  For safety concerns, they lived high on mountaintop, guarded by monks until the Blessed Virgin Mary died.  Today, a chapel rests upon the original house where Mary lived her last days.  Scientists have estimated much of the old stonework dates back to the 1st and 4th centuries.  

St. John was the youngest apostle of Jesus and one of the most prolific writers of the bible.  We also had the opportunity to visit the island of Patmos, Greece.  It’s a tiny island only 3.5 miles wide.  John was banished to a cave where he wrote the Book of Revelations.  The simple cave today is a chapel and part of a Monastery.  

Visiting these holy sites were the highlights of our trip and a religious experience I will always cherish.

Mark Condra
Lay Leader