John 19:26-27. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
At eight days old Jesus was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem by his father, Joseph, and his mother, Mary. It was on that day that the elderly saint, Simeon, prophesied concerning Mary and her son, Jesus. “A sword will pierce through your own soul,” Mary. This blessed son of yours will bring you pain and anguish. And now that prophesy is being fulfilled as Mary stands by and watches her firstborn son be crucified. They say there is no greater grief than that of a parent grieving for a dying child.
While Mary is full of sorrow, Jesus is full of affection. In his anguish he is still caring for others. He has already forgiven his torturers and invited the penitent thief into his kingdom. Now he will honor his mother and secure her future in the household of John the Beloved.
Yes, Jesus is once again fulfilling the law. The Ten Commandments require this honoring of parents with the promise of long days on the Earth when you do, something that Jesus will have to wait until after the resurrection (and his return) to enjoy. As the firstborn son, care for his widowed mom would be Jesus’ responsibility. But Christ is doing something far greater than obeying the Old Covenant. He is inaugurating the New Covenant. The New Covenant household of faith.
Think about it. Why is this statement even necessary? Jesus has at least three brothers and two sisters. Where are James, Jude, and Simon? Shouldn’t they naturally take over the care for Mary their mother? Of course they should. James should take Mary into his household, not John the son of Zebedee. He has his own parents to worry about.
Were Jesus’ siblings all just so terrible? Did they all refuse to care for their mom? Probably not. So what is Jesus doing? Why is he going against thousands of years of cultural and legal norms, especially in an honor-shame culture like this one, where caring for parents is considered a great honor?
Jesus is demonstrating for us something he has taught before in his ministry – in his kingdom, spiritual ties are greater than even biological ties. Consider these words of Jesus:
Matthew 12:46-50. 46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
What is Christ doing with this “third word” from the cross? He is establishing the household of God. With these words, Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother, the church is conceived. Jesus died to save us from our sins, but he rose to bring us into a new family, the church.
All who trust in Christ are welcomed into the family of God. God our Father. Christ our brother. We are now brothers and sisters in Christ. John is not just Mary’s “son” now, he is her brother in Christ. And John does what every Christian is asked to do. To receive one another. To welcome into our lives. To care for the widow, the downcast, the marginalized. As John himself will write years later:
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
How difficult must it have been for Christ to let go of Mary his mother. She has stood by him through it all. She has loved him, cared for him, and nurtured him as only a mother can. But not even his love for his mother could keep Jesus from fulfilling the will of his Father. As Genesis 2:24 says, Jesus must leave father and mother and cling to his Bride and become “one flesh” with her. With us. And now Christ, our bridegroom, has gone to prepare a place for us, his Bride, in his heavenly home, so that where he is, we may be also.
Until then let us love one another as the family of God and the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Let our homes be places of love and safety for one another. And let our hearts be open to welcome in all who need to find resurrection rest.
You: Are you part of the family of God? Do you live like you are part of his family?
You in Christ: How does knowing that Jesus has placed you into his forever family give you the confidence to invest your life in the church?
Christ in you: Is there someone that is hurting or marginalized that you could welcome into your home and heart?
Prayer: Father, you have placed me into your family and I am forever grateful. Teach me to love and care for the household of saints as I trust my future in your kingdom. Amen.
To Live is Christ 