John 19:25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
His mother stood by His cross with the other women, supported by John the beloved disciple, with Mary Magdalene among them. There she saw fulfilled the word that a sword would pierce her soul, as she watched the hands that had healed and blessed the suffering nailed to the wood, still hoping He would save Himself, yet sinking in bitter grief and tested whether she must give up her faith that He was the Messiah. She fainted in anguish and was carried away from the scene, and John brought her back when His death was near, while those who held the other account taught that the disciples led her away beforehand so she would not hear the spikes driven through His hands and feet. The forgiven woman stood sorrow-stricken at the foot of the cross watching His agony, understanding that His wounds and blood were for her sin and blotted out her record. Even in His agony He remembered and cared for His mother, for He knows a mother's burdens and sorrow and gives comfort and help in every need, and His blood shed without the gate is the price by which He bought the people and sanctified them to redeem them from the curse.
The Scene at Calvary
John 19:25 belongs to Jesus being led out from Pilate's court bearing His cross to Calvary. That crucifixion took place at Calvary outside the boundaries of Jerusalem, outside the gate where felons and murderers were executed. As substitute for Adam and Eve who were banished from Eden for transgression of God's law, He suffered without the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood and redeemed them from the curse of the law by being made a curse for them.
A vast multitude followed Jesus from the judgment-hall to Calvary. Among them were disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region, present openly because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them. News of His condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem, and people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion.
The setting is the taking away of the Bridegroom from the disciples. It is the time when Jesus was in the hands of wicked men, rejected by His own nation clamoring for His blood, crowned with thorns, clothed in the purple robe and mocked and struck with the reed. He was scourged as the worst of criminals while Barabbas was chosen in His place, and lifted up on the cross dying as a malefactor. This is the time when the disciples have cause to mourn and fast, when days of trial and temptation come and the presence of the Comforter is not clearly discerned, when their faith is tried and their hope and courage fail.
It was a terrible, trying hour of gloom and darkness with the Son of God dying upon the cross. The disciples who beheld Him there lost their faith because they had failed to watch and pray and share His self-sacrifice, and had not received the light and knowledge of His sufferings and the glory that should follow. Had they remained watching, rays of hope from that knowledge would have lighted up the darkness and sustained their faith as they looked on His death. The verse belongs to the account of Jesus being nailed to the cross and enduring hours of agony there, which shows the extent of what Christ gave up for humanity.
The Women at the Cross
His mother stood beside His cross with the other women, supported by John the beloved disciple. There she realized the fulfillment of Simeon's words that a sword would pierce through her soul, as she witnessed the suffering of her son whom Simeon had identified as God's salvation and a light for the Gentiles. She had followed Him to Calvary and when He grew exhausted and fell beneath the cross she longed to help and support and comfort Him, but she was denied that privilege and was not allowed to do so.
She watched in agonizing suspense still hoping He would perform a miracle to save and deliver Himself and reveal Himself as the Son of God. Seeing Him nailed to the cross brought her bitter grief and disappointment, and her hope sank as she remembered His words about the events unfolding that day. Her suffering tested her faith so that she questioned whether she must give up her faith that He was the Messiah, and she could not bear the thought that He would be crucified. As she watched, she saw the hands that had brought healing and blessing to the suffering being nailed to the cross.
Overwhelmed with a mother's anguish she fainted, and the disciples carried her away fainting from the scene. They led and removed her before He was nailed to the cross so she would not hear the spikes driven through His hands and feet. John brought her back when Jesus' death was near. John and the women from Galilee remained at the cross after Jesus' death, for they could not leave His body to the soldiers or accept His burial in a dishonored grave, though they lacked the influence to prevent it.
Mary Magdalene stood beside the cross, though once controlled by demons and regarded as a great sinner. She had been lifted from despair by Christ, had overcome through His strength, and had been brought into close fellowship with Him. Her presence at the cross was part of a life of learning from Jesus and serving Him, as she also followed Him to the tomb, was first there after His resurrection, and first proclaimed that He had risen. The forgiven woman stood sorrow-stricken at the foot of the cross, watching His agony and hearing His cry. She understood that His sacrifice is for sin and that her own transgression helped bring about His suffering, and that the wounds and blood she sees are for her and blot out her record of sin.
What the Cross Teaches
Jesus was led out to be crucified at Calvary outside the boundaries and gate of Jerusalem where felons and murderers were executed. As the substitute for Adam and Eve who were banished from Eden for transgression of God's law, He suffered without the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood. He redeemed them from the curse of the law by being made a curse for them.
In His agony on the cross Jesus remembered and cared for His mother. Because He knew a mother's burdens and sorrow, He is touched by mothers' grief. He gives comfort and help in every need. Hanging on the cross at Calvary He suffered as a bleeding victim, and His death is the evidence that He is at the believer's side to help. That death is the source of the grace and power He gives.
The Calvary setting shows Christ's blood as the price by which people are bought and the basis of salvation for soul and body. That saving power of Christ is to be shared with the sick and suffering. People are called to surrender themselves to His keeping and to bring their lives into conformity with His will. The record of Christ's suffering and death is a chapter of special consequence to believers that should speak to their hearts. Its account strengthens those who suffer for their faith and encourages them to hold fast to it.