The gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion record seven things that he said whilst hanging on the cross. The third is found in John 19:26-27 where we read that Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ and to the apostle John, ‘Behold your mother!’
Of all these sayings of Jesus, this is, perhaps, the least well known, but it is nonetheless worthy of some consideration. Bear in mind that Jesus is experiencing unbelievable pain and, having been nailed to the cross for approaching six hours, is now drawing near to his inevitable death. But even as he does so, he is thinking of others – of both his mother Mary and the disciple John, who is the author of this eyewitness account of his crucifixion. And so Jesus speaks of how they are to care for each other over the coming weeks, months, and years.
But we should not just be amazed at how Jesus expresses his concern for others despite his own overwhelming difficulties. Firstly, we should also see how Jesus is honouring his mother in the same way that we, no matter our current age, should honour our own parents. Secondly, we see his concern for Mary, generally believed to be a widow at this point of her life, and how he therefore fulfils another biblical mandate that we too are called to keep, namely to care for widows and orphans in their affliction [James 1:27]. And thirdly, we should note too how Jesus’ followers should consider themselves as part of the same family, the bond between them every bit as strong as that which exists between those who share the same flesh and blood.
Because it is not that we Christians enjoy union only with Christ. Alongside that immense privilege, we are also united to one another, with Christ the head of the body that each and every one of us are a part.
One of the things that I’ve both noticed since starting to work with the Slavic Gospel Association, is how Christians in other countries seem to refer to each other as brothers as sisters far more commonly than we do in the UK, or at least, those part of the country that I most commonly frequent. And they’re right to. Because as Christians we are all a part of God’s family, the family that we have all been adopted into by our loving Heavenly Father. And so, just as we should rejoice with those who rejoice when they are enjoying good things, so too we must weep with those who weep when they are beset with sorrow, like, for example, our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Ukraine, caught up as they are in the continuing conflict there.*
Jesus’ words also remind us how even those closest to Christ are not immune to sadness, for how great must have been the sorrow experienced by Mary as, stood at the foot of the cross, she saw in all their horrible proximity, the nails which pierced her own son’s hands and feet. Not that it will have come as any surprise to her, for soon after she’d given birth to Jesus, Simeon had predicted that the one who was now nearing his death would be opposed in such a way that a sword would pierce her soul too. [Luke 2:34]
Even so, as she beheld her two sons, both the one that she once laid in a manger, and the one who from that very hour took her into his home, she was seeing the one who would rise from the dead in just three days’ time, and the one who would be the first to bring her the news of his glorious resurrection. [John 20:10]
For Mary then on Good Friday, weeping tarried for the nighttime, but joy came with the dawning of Easter Day. As it will one day also come to all those who long for Christ’s’ return.
*You can read about how Ukrainian Christians are approaching Easter this year by following this link: https://sga.org.uk/easter-hope-in-ukraine/
Related blogs:
To read ‘Some Words for Holy Week: 2 – ‘Tomorrow, you will be with me in paradise’, click here
To read ‘Some Words for Holy Week: 1 – ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’, click here.
To read ‘What becomes of the broken hearted – sorrowful yet always rejoicing on Palm Sunday’, click here
Some musings 