“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”(John 19:26-27)
One of the most tender, yet agonizing scenes in all of recorded literature is the one before us of Mary standing by the cross of Jesus with her sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. His mother was there to support Jesus and the other women were there to support her in her agony and sorrow. It is here that Jesus gives us His third saying from the cross.
John the beloved was there. Jesus directs the attention of His mother away from Himself and to that disciple and tells her she will be in John’s care. Why would she not be in the care of her other children, particularly her sons? Remember, they were unbelieving until after Calvary, and the resurrection. Likely, Mary’s husband, Joseph had died. Jesus directed the care of His mother to John. He said to John, “Behold thy mother.” A spiritual, believing brother of Jesus would be more dependable than the physical, unbelieving brothers of Jesus. John Philips, in commenting on this passage said that Jesus “would not send Mary back to her natural home where she might have to listen to words from her unbelieving family which would only add to her grief.” Jesus said the time would come when, “a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36)
Eternity alone will reveal the good that has been done for mankind by the hands of dedicated believers, Christians whose lives have manifested the love of God toward relieving pain and suffering of people around the world.
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