John 19:26-27 NKJV

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

I cannot begin to imagine what Mary the mother of Jesus was going through at this point gazing at her son and Lord suffering in great anguish hanging on the cross. Jesus, on the other hand, though in great anguish, looks down and sees two people that he greatly loved, and he says something to both of them. Though it seems like a simple statement, it is greatly profound, and we can learn a lot from it.

First, though Jesus is suffering in pain and about to die, he does not think of himself but others. The reality is that when we go through anguish and hard times, we hardly think of others. The temptation is to complain and cry out to others for help. Jesus did the opposite, from asking God to forgive his persecutors to promising paradise to a known criminal and now looking out for his mother.

Second, Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son and at this point it is most likely that Joseph had passed on. It was the duty of the firstborn son to take care of his mother, and we see Jesus doing this even at his point of death. Remember he said that he did not come to abolish but fulfil the law.

Thirdly, the Bible tells us that from that hour, John the disciple took Mary the mother of Jesus to his home. This is a great lesson on loving and caring for one another, which was the core of Jesus’ message and ministry.

May we learn to think of others more highly than ourselves. May we demonstrate the love that Jesus taught us towards one another. Moreover, may we take care of our families because as Paul says;

I Timothy 5:8 NKJV

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Reflections.

• What is the greatest pain and anguish you have ever gone through, and what were you thinking about at that point?
• Do you have a close friend you can entrust to take care of your family in your absence?
• What is your relationship with your parents like if they are alive / your family?