“Woman, behold, your son!”
“Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
One disciple has come to watch the crucifixion, namely the disciple whom Jesus loves — John. Jesus sees His mother standing next to His beloved disciple. He sees what suffering she has to bear. A sword pierces through her soul (Luke 2:35). Jesus’ time has come, His mother will lose her Son. As in John 2:4, Jesus does not call Mary “mother” but “woman.” Mary must step down as a mother; she must take her place as every disciple of Jesus. The family circle of Jesus is not so much about blood relationship as it is about faith community. Mary must now learn to see her Son as Lord.
Jesus then turns to John. He is instructed to love and care for Mary as if she were his mother. Mary still needs support during her further earthly life. In Jesus’ judgement, she cannot find enough support from her other children, who do not believe in Jesus as Savior (John 7:5). John will be her son – at least in a spiritual sense and presumably also in a material sense. The commission to John reflects the rule established by Jesus before: “Whoever receives someone sent by Me receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (John 13:20).
This is a commission for all of His followers: that others may recognize and find Jesus in you!