Today we will be learning about Jesus’ third phrase on the cross; “Woman behold your son…Behold your mother.” There’s a lot to be seen in this interchange, so let’s get to it.
(John 19:26-27)
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
I want to break this into parts:
1) We can see that obviously this has to do with Filial Piety. Jesus is looking to care for His mother, even in the moments of suffering and death. In those days they didn’t have government programs to care for retired or elderly people. When a husband died, if a woman didn’t have sons, she wouldn’t have a way to support herself.
(1 Kings 17:10-12)
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink." And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die
God sent Elijah to her. He called on the widow to support Elijah, but used the prophet to provide the means of that support. Jesus is basically doing the same thing here. He is using John to provide support for His mother. Sometimes, we think that Jesus is calling His mother to look at Jesus, but what He is doing is establishing that This disciple would step in and act in His place to care for His mother’s needs.
Jesus had
brothers, so Mary had other sons.
(Mark 6:3)
Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
Why was John, his disciple chosen to
care for Mary, rather than His brothers?
Because apparently, they weren’t saved yet.
(John 7:5)
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Look at
what Jesus said:
(Matthew 12:46-50)
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
It is our salvation that brings us into familial relationship with Christ. We are adopted into God’s family. We become Children of God, just as Jesus is.
(Roman 8:14-17)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
So that’s
the first lesson here. In salvation we
become Children of God, with all the rights of sons.
2)
The second thing has to do with Chapter three in
the Book of Genesis. It’s important to
know that the crucifixion is God’s final solution to sin. We know that Genesis three is the picture of
the fall of mankind. It shows us the
nature of mankind. It is our nature to
sin. Look at what it says in Genesis 3:6
(Genesis 3:6)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Compare that to this description of sin:
(1 John 2:15-16)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Good for Food = Lust of the flesh.
(Philippians 3:19)
whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
Pleasant to the eyes = lust of the eyes
(Mark 9:47)
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—
Desirable to make one wise = Pride of life
An example of that is here:
(Acts 12:21-23)
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
So, this is a way to describe sin. It is the pathway to the sin of the Garden
(eating the forbidden fruit).
Look at what God speaks to Satan after his successful
temptation of Eve. These things are her reasons for eating the fruit. God
curses him by saying this:
(Genesis 3:14-15)
So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
There is an excellent scene in the movie, “The Passion of
the Christ,” where Jesus after saying, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours,
where He encounter Satan as a serpent and stomps on his head.”
He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His
heel."
This is what is taking place during the crucifixion. By setting is free from sin through his death
on the cross He is destroying Satan’s power.
Look at this:
(Revelation 1:18)
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Through His death and resurrection, He holds the power over
Hell and death.
3) The final thing I want to show you here is the care that Jesus takes of His mother even though he is suffering. He looks not at His own suffering but instead looks to her care, so he appoints John to look after her.
(John 19:26-27)
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Throughout the Gospel of John, he refers to himself as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Before we begin to think John is being egotistical here, it is more likely that his whole identity is wrapped up in Jesus loving him. He’s not saying He loves me more than the others, what he’s saying is that I am who I am because he loves me.
His whole life is wrapped up in his relationship to Jesus. So, the question here is, “What is your identity?” Do you think of yourself in the way that John did? It is quite freeing to think that you are loved by Jesus. All of our problems, hurts and sufferings pale in comparison to Jesus’ love. These things are all temporary, His love is eternal.
