The scripture to look at is John’s gospel chapter 19 verse 25&26&27
At the cross stood 4 women and the apostle John. One of the women folk was Mary the mother of Jesus. John had deserted Jesus along with all the other disciples ashamed, frightened, fearful, but here he is at the cross. These three verses embrace 3 new testament characters.
The first is OUR MARVELOUS MASTER
Consider this:-
When He was rich He became poor.
When He was born it was in a stable.
When He walked upon the sea.
When He stood and spoke at the tomb of Lazarus.
When He died a ransom for all in the cross.
When He commended his mother to John.
Jesus on that cruel cross triumphing over the pain and horrors of crucifixion for Him to say to His mother “Woman, behold thy son” and to His disciple John “Behold thy mother”. At that time the powers of darkness were exerting all their powers to crush the spirit of Jesus to forsake the commandment to honour his mother. He overcame the pain, the power and the position on the cross. He proved His marvellous invincibility even in the hours of His death. Here we to can see His marvelous devotedness to the word of God. Also there is this marvelous tenderness in His care of His mother. There is to a marvelous carefulness towards the scriptures, there is a marvelous wisdom as He selected John to look after His mother and not Mary’s son’s as they were not saved.
See Psalm 69:8. at that time. See to how the Lord first looked at His mother then to John. Jesus didn’t ask Mary to take care of John but John to take care of Mary. Jesus saw her frailty, her need and so committed her to John. A marvelous master indeed.
THE MOURNING MOTHER.
Our scripture tells us that Mary stood by the cross. She wasn’t hysterical she wasn’t wailing she was silent standing by the cross upon which her son hung dying. In those quiet moments she was suffering. Luke’s Gospel chapter 2 vs 25 to 35 tells us this. The Holy Ghost was upon Simeon and he said to Mary several things but in vs35 he says “Yea a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also”. Yes she was suffering in silence. God’s grace was upon Mary. She was submissive to her Lord and master and went to John’s home.
THE RETURNING RUNAWAY
John’s Position. Our scripture tells us in Vs 26 the disciple who Jesus loved stood by the cross, John had RUNAWAY with the other 10 disciples, he had forsook his Lord.(Matt ch26:56) The shame that had flooded through his soul, the hurt the disgrace he must have felt. But he had come back. The Lord saw him and by what he said he welcomed him back. God, He will always welcome you back.
John’s Commission. “Behold thy mother”. Mary became as his own mother.
John’s Submission “And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” God had a plan for John and His mother He has a plan for you and me to. What a Saviour.
God bless
Michael Whitehouse