“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!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27
In 1990 a song came out entitled, “From A Distance,” in which the chorus states, “God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us from a distance.” The truth is many people do indeed feel that way. When they are struggling with something or going through a crisis, and they cry out to God for help, they feel abandoned and forsaken when there appears to be no answer. They just don’t see the care and compassion that they read about in the Bible.
However, to say that the Lord doesn’t care about what we are going through couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is that Jesus loves us body and soul, and He cares deeply about what is happening in our life. We can see this clearly from the words that Jesus spoke to Mary and John from the cross.
First of all, Jesus showed great compassion for His mother. If you are a parent, think about what a gut wrenching experience it is to watch your child suffer or possibly even die. I truly believe that there is no pain that goes so deep as having to stand helplessly by while your child is suffering.
This is what Mary experienced. Her heart was ripped apart as she watched Jesus suffer so deeply on that cross. Her son, whom she dearly loved, was dying, and there was not a thing she could do about it. She had reached the deepest depth of sorrow.
Then there was John, who was not only Jesus’ disciple, but one of His best friends. Who could bear to watch their best friend die such a horrible death. Jesus hung there broken, beaten, bleeding, dying. As John stood there utterly helpless, that pain deep within him had to be unbearable.
The good news here though is that, even though Mary and John could do nothing, there was something Jesus could do even as He hung there in incredible agony. John’s Gospel states, “when Jesus therefore 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
Jesus was deeply concerned for His mother’s welfare. So purely out of love, He entrusted Mary to John’s care. John did indeed take Mary into his own household as the rest of verse 27 states. In fact, tradition tells us that they eventually lived in Ephesus until their deaths.
There is something more here though, that we need to understand. Jesus referred to Mary as “woman” or “dear woman”. This was not showing a lack of respect, but rather that Mary was something more than Jesus’ mother. The relationship between mother and son is very close. However, a relationship between a believer in Christ exceeds that of a mother/son relationship.
Jesus wasn’t just Mary’s son, He was her Savior, who redeemed her and who would never forsake her. This is the ultimate family relationship, and this is what Jesus accomplished in His sacrifice.
This is also the great news for us, because not only is Mary part of Jesus family, but we are as well. In his letter to the Galatians Paul writes, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Gal. 3:26-27). Later he writes, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying ‘Abba! Father!’” (Gal. 4:6)
So, we who have clothed ourselves with Christ in our baptism are now part of God’s family. That means that the Lord is very concerned about our welfare, His family, as He was concerned about the welfare of Mary. He truly cares about what we are going through right here and now, because we are His family.
Think about this; there is a familiar saying that states, “Blood is thicker than water”, referring to the fact that family ties are stronger than anything. Well, I believe that Baptismal water runs even thicker than blood, for it binds us to the Almighty God and to each other. The bonds of blood end with death. However, our unity in the Body of Christ, the family of God, goes way beyond death and the grave, all the way to the resurrection and life.
So understand, if in the midst of His agony and suffering, Jesus didn’t forget His mother, now that He is risen and sits at the right hand of God, with all power and authority, do you really think He is going to forget you? You are family. He will never leave or forsake you, and praise God for that.
Lord Jesus, even as You hung there on the cross, Your heart was filled with compassion for Your mother. We thank You that through Your saving work, You have shown that same compassion to us in making us Your brothers and sisters. Please, as Your family, help us to reach out to others with that same compassion and love that You have shown to us, that we may all be one family. We ask this in the power of Your Holy Name. Amen.
Keith Enko