“Here Is Your Son” -- John 19:25-27

The Bible shows us there is a special relationship between Jesus and Mary. Of course, Mary’s story is well known from the time she first learned she was to be Christ’s mother. Luke reports twice in his gospel account that Mary treasured events in Jesus’ life in her heart and pondered over the meaning of the events. In John’s gospel account, we read that Mary is the one who initiated Jesus’ first miracle, the turning of water to wine.

The incident in Cana is interesting. They’re at the wedding when the party runs out of wine. John writes that Mary turned to Jesus first. She tells Him matter-of-factly: “They have no more wine” (John 2:3b).

Jesus addresses His mother in a seemingly chiding manner: “Dear woman, why do you involve Me? My time has not yet come” (John 2:4). Immediately, Mary turns to the servants and tells them to do whatever Jesus tells them to do.

This vignette in Jesus’ early ministry tells us a lot about Mary, Jesus and their relationship. The fact that she knew Jesus could do something about the wine issue suggests that she was confident enough in His abilities that she knew she could tell Him. Jesus’ words to Mary are not a denial or a refusal, but a reminder that He wasn’t ready to reveal His ministry. Nevertheless, when the time came, Jesus did as His mother had requested.

A word here about how Jesus addresses Mary. The NIV says “Dear woman,” but most other versions omit the word “dear.” At first glance, it would appear that Jesus is being rather curt with her. But that was not the case. It is right that the NIV includes the term “dear” because Jesus had a great love for His mother.

And now we see Jesus as He hangs on the cross. Already, we have seen Him expressing forgiveness and compassion for those who were committing the crucifixion, and He has given salvation to the thief who sought it from Him. Now as we consider Jesus’ third statement from the cross, we learn that:

Central Truth: Even on the cross, Jesus showed His love for His mother and faith in John.

Jesus’ concern for Mary:

Those present at the cross (25-26a)

In the Upper Room prior to Jesus’ betrayal, Peter and the other disciples had pledged to stand with Jesus and never abandon Him. Peter had demonstrated his commitment by drawing a sword and using it when Jesus was arrested.

Both Peter and John followed Jesus to the High Priest’s house where Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin. It was there, when Peter was alone among a crowd of people, that he denied Jesus and fled into the night in great despair. Other gospel accounts indicate that the other disciples also fled, most immediately after Jesus’ arrest.

As Jesus hangs on the cross, there is only one disciple present, John. He stands at the foot of the cross with Mary and at least two other women, possibly three. I’m not sure if Mary of Clopas was Mary’s sister or if she was someone other than Mary’s sister. Regardless, there is only a small number of people who knew and cared for Jesus as He hung on the cross.

Imagine the horror and sorrow in Mary’s heart. As a parent, we do not like to see our children suffer. We hurt when they go through illnesses, we ache for them when they suffer life’s setbacks. No parent likes to see their child suffer.

Yet here Mary is, watching as her Son slowly loses His life. She hates to see Him suffer, but as His mother, she could not abandon Him at this time of His need. So, Mary stands at the foot of the cross, watching her Son in pain and anguish, knowing that He will not be coming down again while He is alive. She is watching Him die.

A mother’s needs (26b)

Jesus is enduring the pain of the cross after having gone through the ordeal of His trials before the Sanhedrin, Herod and Pilate. He has been scourged, mocked, condemned, and now He hangs between two thieves on a cross. Not to mention the spiritual warfare being waged by Satan at this time. The devil is using all his tricks and lures in a desperate battle to deflect Jesus from the victory that was sooon to be His. Looking down, He sees His mother and His disciple.

In the time of Mary’s life, a woman was almost completely dependent upon her husband or her family for her well-being. An example of the dire straits of a widow is to read the book of Ruth. Ruth’s mother-in-law had little if any prospects to provide for herself other than to go into the fields after the harvesters had finished their task.

Mary had no options now. True, she had other sons—James, Joseph, Simon and Judas—and she had daughters, but Jesus as the eldest was responsible for her well-being once her husband had died.

And now He was leaving her. He knew what was going to happen to Him—that He was laying down His life, and that He’d rise again in three days. But after He rose again, He would ascend to the Father.

Mary needed someone to take care of her.

It was at this point, as Jesus looks down at His grieving mother, He realizes that He needs to see to her needs.

And so He speaks to her—“Dear woman, here is your son” (v. 26b).

In doing so, Jesus is telling His mother how much He loves her, how much He wants the best for her. Seeing John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the only one who stood with Jesus at His most trying time, Jesus knows that He has placed Mary in the best hands possible. Jesus knew John’s heart, and He knew that John could look after His mother as if she were his own mother.

In telling Mary that John was to be her son now, Jesus is taking time away from His own troubles to reassure and comfort His mother in perhaps her darkest moment. “Dear woman, here is your son” is Jesus’ way of telling her that it will be all right.

A disciple’s ministry (27)

Of all those who had strongly promised Jesus that they would never desert Him, only one still stood with Him. While the others had fled, fearing they, too, would be arrested and perhaps join Jesus at Calvary, John had refused to run and hide. John remained faithful to the Messiah he had followed almost from the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

John had seen it all—the water to win, the woman at the well, the feeding of the 5000, the healing of the blind man, the raising of Lazarus. John had been with Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount, had been one of the 72 sent out to proclaim the good news. He had been at the Transfiguration, the calming of the sea, the walking on water. John had been in that Upper Room the last night, and now he stood at the foot of the cross. As he looked upon his Messiah, we have no idea what was going through his mind or his heart. We have no idea if John spoke words of comfort, if he begged Jesus to come down and prove once for all that He really was God’s Chosen. John believed, but we have no idea how that faith was expressed except for his faithful vigilance at the feet of Jesus on Calvary.

If John knew Jesus as well as any man could, Jesus knew John even better than John knew himself. Jesus saw the heart of His disciple, and He knew what the Father had planned for this man Jesus saw standing with His mother and the other women, offering comfort and support, even though Jesus knew John’s heart itself was breaking. Knowing John as Jesus did, it should come as no surprise that His next words were to John: “Here is your mother.”

Jesus knew John would care for her, provide her needs and treat her with love and respect. Jesus knew His disciple would be faithful to Him and therefore would be faithful to His mother. Jesus knew, as He said His words to John, that He could no better than to place His mother’s care in John’s more than capable hands.

The Bible confirms this. It tells us, “From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (v. 27b).

Conclusion

When we look at this moment on the cross, we are reminded how important family is. The first commandment that was not focused on God was, “Honor your father and mother.” Jesus demonstrated His honor to His mother with His last action toward her physical wellbeing.

We also see that Jesus’ words of Mark 3:34-35 being put into action. “Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” Jesus had brothers who were the children of Joseph and Mary. But Jesus also had a brother of faith in John, and it is to him that Jesus entrusts His mother’s care. In doing so, Jesus reminds us that we are to look after one another, and that we who are in Christ truly are the children of God.

Finally, we are reminded that Jesus always has our best interests at heart. Even in the most trying of times for Him, still He cared enough to see after His mother, to confirm His disciple and to continue to demonstrate for us what the love of God is really all about.

Jesus’ example in these two statements show us we have much to give and much to receive, all because Jesus redeemed us at Calvary. How will you respond to His gracious gift?