The Word of Affection
John 19:25-27
After two to three hours on the cross, perhaps as the initial vigor of the mockery wanes a bit; after the Lord has calmed the fury of heaven and confounded the faithlessness of the heathen by declaring the word of forgiveness; after tending to the soul of the penitent thief to his side in proclaiming the word of salvation; Christ here turns his attention to potentially the closest two followers of his entire ministry. And, in the midst of his passion in the place of sinners from the bloody death machine of the cross, he orders his mother’s care into the hands of the beloved disciple as they behold him below the tree. Read John 19:25-27. Notice seven things about this third saying of the cross, the word of affection.
1. Notice the humanity of the Lord Jesus manifest in this saying.
As in so many instances in scripture you can see here in the
final hours of Christ’s earthly ministry the different aspects of perfectly
divine and yet perfectly human natures. Particularly, in these sayings, their
balance is evident. In the first word of the first saying we are reminded that
this man hanging on the cross is no less than God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim
3:16), for he cries out to his Father. In the Sermon on the Mount he had instructed
And yet the only way to carry out such a sacrifice would be for God to become a man. And this element of Christ’s person is manifest in this saying as he addresses the woman that provided him flesh upon which he might bear the sin of the world and die in the place of sinful men. Christ’s humanity is no less significant in the atonement that his deity. It’s by this humble lady to whom he speaks that God took on a body through which he might be tempted in all points, like as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15-16).
2. Notice the sorrow of Jesus’ mother. (Luke 2:34-35)
Each of Christ’s sayings that we’ve looked at thus far has had prophetic significance, and this is no different. In the first we heard him make intercession for the transgressors, according to the scripture. In the second we’re reminded that he’s numbered with the transgressors, according to the scripture. And here our attention is brought to focus on the condition of this faithful saint named Mary, who is in a heart-breaking condition, in accordance with Simeon’s prophecy. It was a simple, parenthetical statement spoken by a devout Jew named Simeon. And while it may have held great mystery for 33 ½ years it now finds its fulfillment at the foot of the cross. “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also.” Mary had brought the son of God into the world. She had nursed this man nailed to that cross. But more than that, she had forsaken everything seemingly sensible to follow him to this point. Her children had (yes Jesus did have siblings) reject the Lord’s claims. But Mary stuck with him. And here as the apple of her eye and the joy of her heart suffers for the sins of the world, her very soul is pierced through with grief.
3. Notice the extent of Christ’s compassion.
There is no way to properly represent the torment and agony that the Lord is experiencing and warfare that is being waged, physically and emotionally, in this six hours that Christ is on the cross. And it is going on the entire time he’s there. None of us have ever had such a high calling as Christ had as he died for the world. And yet his compassion on the cross is so keen and so thorough and so full that even as he wars with all the enemies of hell and considers my lost soul and yours upon the cross he does not fail to tend to the future physical and financial care of Mary. As he performs the greatest spiritual act ever to be carried out, he takes time to recall the practical and temporal predicament of his mother. How often do we consider the great responsibilities before us day by day, and fail to remember to meet the simple, smaller needs of those that otherwise would go unnoticed. With the enormity of Christ’s work there upon the cross, had this saying not been included in John’s gospel we would never think it missing. But its inclusion reminds us of the perfection of Christ’s compassion, and it serves to compel us to tend to the needs of those we so often neglect.
4. Notice the example the Lord sets for children toward their parents.
This can be a hard truth to face, but Christ’s example to us is so clear. Christ came, according to his own word, to fulfill the law. And among the law that he kept to the last jot and tittle is the fifth commandment to Honour thy father and mother. Following the incident of his being separated from his parents in Jerusalem at the age of 12, which was the oversight of his parents rather than his disobedience, the scripture says that he returned home with his parents “and was subject unto them.” He had been obedient in his childhood, and while the days of his obedience were through, the days of his honour were not. As mentioned the Lord had at least four brothers and two sisters according to Mark 6:3. The death of Mary’s firstborn would have left her to the care of Jesus’ siblings. The fact that Christ made arrangements for her care indicates that he knew they wouldn’t take care of her. For us as believer’s we’ve been charged to make sure our parents are cared for in their later life. As Solomon instructs us in Proverbs 23:22, hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
5. Notice the designation of Mary by Jesus.
It’s interesting to note that not one time in scripture does Jesus Christ ever call Mary, ‘Mother.’ Every time he addresses her he does so by calling her ‘Woman.’ (here and John 2:4) Apparently, the Lord understood that the day would come when the wicked Babylonian mystery religion would put on the garb of Christianity and parade Mary around in the place of the age old Semiramis, or Aphrodite, or Astarte, or Venus, as the queen of heaven and mother of God. Jesus Christ was very careful not to contribute to the deification and worship of Mary, and indeed she herself realized her need for a Saviour and was among the first to be saved by the shed blood of Christ.
But there is an additional nugget in the Lord’s designation of Mary. Jesus Christ’s identification of Mary as ‘Woman,’ identifies her with the first messianic prophecy in the Bible. Mary is the woman whose seed would bruise the head of the serpent. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, mad of a woman, made under the law (Gal 4:4).
6. Notice the
composition of the crowd at the foot of the cross.
This passage calls our attention to the company at the foot of the cross. There is one male follower of Jesus Christ. There are at least five named women. This is the same group of women that had followed, and tended to he and his disciples, and clung to his every word for the last three years or more.
A gracious woman retaineth honour. (Prov 11:16)
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. (Prov 12:4)
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (Prov 31:10)
For the most part the Bible is very clear in setting out where men are to serve and where women are not to serve. But ladies, you should never get the idea that you are not of the highest value in the Lord’s service. When all of Christ’s apostles forsook him, these great women of faith stood with the Lord.
7. Notice the restoration of the beloved disciple.
As the Lord made his way to