“And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns…so Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The LORD will Provide’ and to this day it is said, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.'” – Genesis 22:13, 14
“…your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” – Matthew 6:8
“When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!'” – John 19:26, 27
From the cross Jesus has revealed to us the love and compassion of the Father. He has reminded us that God is a God of forgiveness and mercy. He also shows us that He is a God who sees us. He watches over us and, therefore, cares for us…provides for us. This is the message of the cross…God provided for us The Way.
It was a “test” we are told in Genesis 22:1. God asked Abraham to take his son Isaac to the top of Mt. Moriah and sacrifice him to the LORD. This was the very son that God had miraculously provided to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. He was the fulfillment of the promise. If you know the story then you know Abraham passed the test. Not because he sacrificed his son, but because he was willing to. He believed that the God who miraculously provided Isaac in the first place would continue to miraculously provide one way or another…and He did. Abraham called the place Jehovah Jirah, which means “The LORD will Provide”, and, sure enough, right there at the top of the mountain…just behind him was what he needed.
I’m sure Mary was in a state of shock as she watched her oldest son struggling on the cross and I would guess that John wasn’t in any better frame of mind. Neither of them was thinking of what they might need down the road. They were simply dealing with the heartbreak and sorrow of the moment and the haunting questions we have all asked at times…”How could God let this happen?” or “Where is God in this?” It is a crisis of faith. It is a “test” of our trust when things don’t go well and we can’t explain it. Even on the cross, Jesus knew they needed comfort. He knew that they needed to know that this was part of His plan. They needed to know that He was still in control and they could trust Him.
For Mary, Jesus wanted her to know that she was not alone and that He was making sure she would be taken care of. He had already planned it. He had orchestrated everything including this personal moment at the cross. “Mom, you’re going to need some help and support through this. That’s why John is here.”
I don’t know what you are going through today, but Jesus does and He knows exactly what you need to get through it. He will provide! It is what He does. Ultimately, He provided you forgiveness and freedom through the cross. Specifically, today, He will provide His presence and the support you need to live for Him. You can trust Him. He has proved it over and over.