Mary, the Mother of Jesus

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:24–27 ESV).

 

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has a special history for many reasons. I’ve always thought her courage and strength were only surpassed by her faith in God. She had an important job raising the son of God. Sometimes simply thinking about boggles my mind. I know what it is like to raise a son, actually three of them, and it is an incredible task. Hers was an unexpected pregnancy, probably the most unexpected pregnancy in the history of civilization. She was a virgin who was told by an angel that she was going to be a mother, that her child was going to change the world and that she would have her heart broken. She likely was no more than 14 or 15 years old at this time in her life. And Nazareth in 1 B.C. wasn’t exactly an encouraging place for an unwed mother. I am sure there was a lot of criticism and gossip at the time. Even Joseph was ready to leave her until God stepped in and explained the situation. Yet she persevered. I wonder what thoughts she must have had standing at the cross watching her son in agony, dying.

 

Jesus’ entire ministry was characterized by selfless acts. Healing sick people, feeding hungry people, taking the role of a servant, and even raising the dead were major parts of his ministry of bringing the good news of God’s love for us all. Jesus was always looking out for others and putting them and their needs ahead of his own. So we shouldn’t be surprised that as he hung on the cross he was still thinking about others.

 

Jesus’ mother, Mary, stood by helplessly, watching her son die on a cross. No doubt, she wept with the others who stood with her. And while Jesus neared death, he reached out to make sure that she would be taken care of. He told the disciple that he loved (John) that he should take Mary into his home and treat her as his own mother and that Mary should treat John as her own son.

 

We can learn so much from her reaction. The pain was real. Jesus’ death was excruciatingly real. Her son died before her eyes in the cruelest of ways being completely innocent of all wrong. Yet, as she naturally grieved, she did what she knew to do. She trusted her son as he told her to lean on John and hoped. We have so much more evidence for our hope today. In your trials, take a step and trust in the direction Jesus is leading you.