On the cross, Jesus was despised and rejected by His people, His disciples have been scattered, yet His mother remains with Him. Neither her own danger, nor her intense sorrow, nor the insults against her son, could keep her from being with Him – what a display of a courageous mother’s love!
Meanwhile Christ, as He bears the weight of sin and its judgment and wrath, as He experiences the turning away of the Father’s countenance, yet is concerned for the welfare of those whom He loves. None of His grief could keep Him from loving His own to the end. In doing so, He commends His mother to the care of His beloved disciple John. How this grandly demonstrates that He does indeed supply our every need!
This act serves as a model for the church, as Jesus taught that whoever hears the Word of God and does it are in actuality His mother and brothers. Loving obedience to the Word of God puts us in a relationship to Christ that is more intimate than His nearest familial relationships. It is noteworthy that in providing for His people, He does so by means of His people. This new relationship between Mary and John is illustrative of the provision Christ makes for us in the church. So “Woman, behold your son,” is a charge to the elderly in the church to embrace the nurture and care of the younger. “Behold your mother,” is a charge to the younger in the church to care for the older.
