THE THIRD SAYING—MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

THE THIRD SAYING—MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS 

John 19:26–27 says, “Woman, behold, your son . . . [Son,] behold, your mother!” Jesus died expressing selfless love. Standing at the foot of His cross was a group of five people far different from the mocking crowd. Along with the apostle John was Mary, the mother of our Lord, who was experiencing the full force of Simeon’s prophecy many years before that her soul would be pierced through because of Jesus (Luke 2:34–35). Bound by love to the cross of her son, she stood suffering in weak silence. Beside her stood Salome—possibly her sister, the mother of James and John. There was also Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene out of whom Jesus had cast demons (Mark 15:40; Luke 8:2–3; John 19:25). It seems fitting that the name Mary means “bitterness” in Hebrew.

The Romans crucified people close to the ground, so it is reasonable to assume that John and the women could have touched Him—perhaps they did. They were able to get near enough to hear Him speak softly. When Jesus said, “Woman, behold, your son,” He didn’t call her mother because that relationship was over. Similarly, when He began His ministry He identified her as “woman” (at the wedding in Cana; John 2:4). On the cross she was reminded again that she needed to understand Jesus, not as her son but as her Savior. Yet His intent was not to call attention to Himself, but to commit His mother to the care of John, and John to the care of His mother.

As Christ was dying, His mother was on His heart. Out of the crowd at the foot of the cross, Jesus’ mother was perhaps the neediest of all. It is likely that Joseph had died by this time, or Jesus wouldn’t have had to make such a commitment. And He couldn’t commit her to His half-brothers since they didn’t believe in Him (John 7:5). He would not have committed the care of His believing mother into the hands of His unbelieving relatives.

Once again we see Christ’s selfless love. On the cross He experienced the weight of the world’s sins, the agony of the cross, and the wrath of almighty God—a far greater internal pain than His external pain. Yet in the midst of His pain He showed compassion. His thoughts were directed towards someone else, a demonstration of the purity of His character. That’s how we are to live—never so overwhelmed with our own pain that we lose sight of the needs of others (cf. Phil. 2:4).