John 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Even in final agony on the cross bearing the sins of the world with pain in every movement, he was not forgetful of others but saw his grief-stricken weeping mother and the disciple he loved standing by and cared for her with throbbing tender love. Addressing her respectfully as Woman, he made John her son and her his mother, bidding John to take his place in caring for her, having no money to leave for her comfort. John understood the words as a sacred trust and from that hour removed her from Calvary to his own home and cared for her as a dutiful son, which lifted the burden from her widowed and pierced heart. His last lesson of unselfish filial love fulfills the duty to honor and provide for parents and calls his followers to compassionate practical care for others even in personal distress, revealing his tenderness toward mothers in grief and his sympathy and honor toward women.
Calvary Setting and Witnesses
After condemnation He was led from Pilate's court toward Calvary bearing on bruised and bleeding shoulders the cross prepared for Barabbas, with Barabbas's two companions, too weak to carry it after taking neither food nor drink since the Passover supper. He had agonized in Gethsemane and endured betrayal and desertion by the disciples, trials before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod, insult, mockery and two scourgings, and He fell fainting beneath the burden twice while the following multitude showed no compassion but taunted Him. No Jew or onlooker would bear the defiling load. News of the condemnation spread throughout Jerusalem, and people of all classes and ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion, while disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng following Him because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest His followers if He Himself were delivered to them. He was crucified at the place called Calvary outside the boundaries of Jerusalem, where felons and murderers were executed. There He suffered without the gate as man's substitute for transgression of the law of God, made a curse to redeem people from the curse of the law and to sanctify the people with His own blood, in His great sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.
He hung in agony on the cross bearing the sins of a guilty world upon His divine soul, enduring suffering for others. His suffering is the measure of the self-denial His followers are called to make. His cross is evidence that He is present to help, providing the grace and power He can give. He was lifted up and dying as a malefactor while His disciples watched Him in whom their hopes of eternal life were centered. This was the taking away of the Bridegroom, bringing days of trial and temptation and mourning and fasting when faith is tried and hope and courage fail. The disciples beheld the Son of God dying in a terrible, trying hour of gloom and darkness, but because they had been overcome with sleep and failed to watch and pray they did not receive the light God desired to give them of His sufferings and the glory that should follow, and they lost the blessing of sharing His self-sacrifice. Slow of heart to believe and little appreciative of the treasure Heaven sought to give them, they failed to endure when brought over the ground of test and trial and lost their faith as they watched Him die, where rays of hope would have lighted the darkness and sustained their faith, as seen when Peter denied his Lord before His enemies.
His mother had followed Him to Calvary and longed to help Him but was not allowed to do so. As He was nailed to the cross the sight overwhelmed her, and the heartbroken disciples carried her away fainting from the scene. Unable to stay away she returned to the foot of the cross, supported by John the beloved disciple. She watched in deep anguish, still hoping He would save Himself and reveal His power before His enemies, while remembering His brief words about the events then unfolding made her heart and hope sink again and deepened her sorrow.
The beloved disciple John stood by the cross and remained near despite danger, showing devotion. He was also the disciple who had watched with Jesus in the judgment hall and was first of the twelve at the tomb, in contrast to Peter being named personally in the first message to the disciples after the resurrection. With him were the women from Galilee, who remained with Jesus and cared deeply about what would happen to His body, though they could not prevent the soldiers from giving Him a dishonored burial. After His death John was deeply concerned that his Master's body receive an honorable burial rather than be handled roughly and placed in a dishonored burial ground.
Christ's Provision for Mary
Even in final agony on the cross, bearing the sins of the world in conflict with the powers of darkness, with pain attending every movement and with physical pain and mental anguish, He was not forgetful of those around Him. He saw His grief-stricken, weeping mother and the disciple standing by whom He loved, and remembered and cared for her with throbbing love, sympathy and tender thoughtful care. He addressed her respectfully as Woman, in keeping with the command to honor one's parents, conveying love through tone, look and manner. By saying behold thy son He made John her son and Mary John's mother, bidding John to take His place as her son and laying her care upon him.
He looked upon John as His near and close and best-loved disciple. He knew Mary needed the tender sympathy of someone who loved Him and a tender heart to comfort her in grief. Having no money to leave to insure her future comfort, He gave her to John enshrined in His heart as a sacred legacy. He knew her cruel disappointment and pierced heart as a widowed mother.
This provision lifted a burden from her so she no longer had to choose a home or risk offending her relatives, because His wish was law. John understood the words as a sacred trust. He immediately removed Mary from the fearful scene of Calvary to his own home, and from that hour took her in and cared for her as a dutiful son. That trust proved a great blessing to John and a constant reminder of his Master.
The voice that spoke to John in vision was the same voice that had spoken these words from the cross, connecting His glorified humanity with His words from the cross.
Example and Comfort for Others
Even in the conflict with the powers of darkness with pain attending every movement, dying for the fallen race and bearing the world's guilt, unselfish love illuminated him and he was not forgetful of those around him but thought of his grief-stricken mother with throbbing love and sympathy, knowing her cruel disappointment and pierced heart as a widowed mother. Seeing her at the foot of the cross supported by John after she had returned unable to stay away, he provided for her future comfort, having no money to leave, by giving her to John enshrined in his heart as a sacred legacy, making John her son and Mary John's mother and bidding John to take his place as her son. John understood the words as a sacred trust committed to him, immediately removed her from the fearful scene of Calvary to his own home, and from that hour took her in and cared for her as a dutiful son. This was his last lesson of unselfish filial love, fulfilling even in final agony and amid physical pain and mental anguish his duty to provide for his mother with tender thoughtful care.
Honoring and providing for parents with tender care and sympathy is part of following him and part of religious duty, and no claim of religious devotion excuses a child from fulfilling those obligations or neglecting them. His compassion and pity even amid personal distress, and his practical care in directing his grieving mother to his beloved disciple and entrusting her to John, make that last lesson one of compassion and humanity and concern for others. It calls people to follow his example by caring for others. The act also teaches that nothing is too small to be done carefully, and that God desires his children to be faithful in little things so they will give due attention to weightier matters.
His remembering and caring for his mother while suffering reveals his tenderness and sympathy and compassion, and shows that he is touched by a mother's sorrow. He remains a friend and helper to mothers in their burdens and need, giving comfort and help in grief and need and ready to help them in their need. His concern for her in that hour is an expression of sympathy and honor toward women.