A grieving mother and a concerned son

It would be impossible to fully define all that was taking place at that moment. The events leading up to and unfolding at Calvary were historical and complex to say the least. Numerous prophecies, spoken hundreds of years earlier, were being fulfilled in minute detail. The covenant plan of redemption crafted in eternity past by God Himself, was reaching its climatic moment as Jesus hung between heaven and earth paying the sin debt of a world of sinners. In the unseen world, Satan and his horde of demonic henchmen were doing everything within their power to crush God’s Anointed and thwart the purposes of the Almighty. 

The rebellious Jewish nation rejected their long-awaited promised Messiah and turn Him over to Pilate to be executed. Jesus had been beaten, scourged, mocked and crucified. Hanging above His head, a sign had been nailed to the cross in derision of the King of Israel. Roman soldiers gambled for His garments while religious leaders derided Him. The men being crucified alongside Christ mocked Him. His apostles had all but abandoned Him. The Sinless Spotless Lamb of God hung between heaven and earth, suffering for sinners. 

Yet in the midst of these earth-shaking history-making events, Scripture records a deeply personal exchange between a mother and her Son. With all these hugely significant, redemptive, and prophetic details unfolding, it would be easy to overlook a very human moment amongst it all. Jesus is concerned for His mother. Read that again, among all that was taking place, Jesus is concerned for His mother. 

In John 19:25-27 we learn that Mary (and a few faithful others) stood near enough to the cross to hear the words of Jesus and witness His suffering firsthand. One can only imagine the anguish Mary felt as she watched her Son suffering and dying. She had carried Jesus in her womb, nursed Him, raised Him, taught Him, and watched Him grow. She had heard the insults hurled against Him throughout His ministry and now watched as nails were driven through His hands and feet. The prophecy of Simeon in Luke 2 had become painfully real: “a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also.” 

The cross of Christ is a heartbreaking scene — one no parent should ever have to endure. And yet Mary was there. She was (of course) there at His birth in Bethlehem, at the wedding in Cana when His ministry began, and now at Calvary as He hung upon the cross. Quite understandably, she is overwhelmed with sorrow to see Her Son (and Savior) like this. 

But being the loving Son that He was, it hurt Jesus to see His mother hurting. And even though it was difficult to even breathe while nailed to a cross, Jesus speaks to His mother. He says to her, “woman, behold your son.” Maybe when you read that you think Jesus is speaking of Himself, but He was not. Instead, He is telling His mother to look at the Apostle John, who was standing there beside her. Then the Lord speaks to John saying, “behold your mother.” John, who was probably little more than a teenager Himself was being tasked by the Lord to look after Mary. By reading the text we learn that from that moment on, John took Mary into his home and treated her like his own mother. 

The limited space allotted us will not allow me to write much about this; but the general consensus among Bible scholars is that Joseph, Mary’s husband was dead. No, the Bible does not specifically say this, but when you combine all of what is written, and not written about Joseph, including this very episode – it is likely Mary was a widow. If our sanctified hypothesis is right and Joseph is gone, Jesus is rightly concerned about who will take care of His mama. Knowing He is soon to die, charging John with the watch care of His mother, ensures she will be loved and looked after when He’s gone. 

This easily overlooked scene reveals the compassionate heart of Christ. Even while enduring excruciating pain, and bearing the wrath of God for sin, Jesus fulfilled the 5^th commandment to honor His mother. He saw her pain, spoke tenderly to her, and made provision for her care. As Jesus looked down from the cross, He saw His mother grieving and despite His own unimaginable agony, He was concerned for her future. 

In many ways, this brief exchange demonstrates true love in action. Jesus prayed for those crucifying Him, asking the Father to forgive them. Yet at the same time, He made sure His grief-stricken mother would not be left alone. Here again, Jesus is the perfect example of godly manhood. And what a Man indeed!

While it is right and good to think highly of Mary, for she was a faithful woman and no doubt a wonderful mother, she was a sinner in need of God’s saving grace. She found that grace, in the same One who loved her enough to make sure she would be taken care of, after He was gone. 

As gruesome as it is, the cross reminds the world of the love of Jesus Christ. His words and actions from Calvary reveal not only His love for sinners, but also His love for His mother. Even in agony, He showed compassion, tenderness, and perfect obedience. Oh, what a Savior!

Dear reader, if your mother is still alive – do like Jesus. See your mom, speak to your mom, and make sure she her needs are met. Obey God and it will be well with your soul.