If ever there was a time to think of your own interests, surely this is it. Jesus has been abandoned, interrogated, flogged, stripped, nailed to a cross and yet at his weakest moment, he still cares deeply for others. We see something of his love as he cares for his dear mother Mary. This is the woman who willingly faced reproach from others as she humbly agreed to accept God’s Word about her becoming the mother of the Son of God. Here is the woman who raised Jesus from his first cry, and now she faces the agony of a sword piercing her soul. As Jesus sees her suffering, He is moved with compassion and sees that she will be cared for.
It’s a little snapshot of the church that Jesus is creating, where believers become family. Mary is about to lose her eldest son, so Jesus gives her John to care for her. Even at his weakest, Jesus is caring for others. But He’s not only weak, He’s the King of all kings. Our reading from Daniel 7 tells us that Jesus is the king to whom all nations will bow, and yet He’s a king who came to serve His people.
It’s not only Mary that He is thinking of, Jesus is thinking of every single person who will come to trust Him. Jesus’ final words recorded by John are “it is finished”. This is not a cry of defeat, but of victory. It’s like what the child may say when they have done their homework, or the farmer may say when the silage is all gathered in, or the homeowner may say when the mortgage is finally paid off.
When Jesus cries out “it is finished” He is declaring that He has completed His work. He has finished bearing the weight of all of our sin. Isaiah tells us Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. Here Jesus tells us, it is done, it is all paid for. There is nothing left for us to pay. If we have turned to Jesus, then as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103).
Do you see what good news this is! It means you and I can stop striving for acceptance with God. We don’t need to do anything to earn God’s love. Jesus has paid the price in full, there is no need for any pilgrimage, penance or purgatory. “It is finished” Jesus cries, you can’t add anything to His work. If you think you can, you’re saying His work was not sufficient. He has done it all. When you understand this, it’s not that you don’t bother living for Him, but you serve Him out of joy at what He’s done for you, rather than striving for God to accept you. You’re accepted, you’re loved, you’re forgiven, you’re welcomed, all because of Jesus.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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