Thoughts on the Gospel of John (196) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. 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.
John 19:25–27

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (196)
Going past the chief priests and the rough soldiers, some women follow the Lord to the cross. Our attention is drawn here to Mary, the mother of Jesus, although she is otherwise only mentioned in this Gospel on the occasion of the wedding in Cana (ch. 2). For her, the time has now come for the fulfilment of the words of Simeon, who said to her, “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:35).

Mary knows perfectly well that her Son is begotten “of the Holy Spirit”, that He is “Jesus” who will save His people from their sins (cf. Matthew 1:20, 21). Nevertheless, it must be a great spiritual burden for her to see her son hanging on the cross. That is why the Son of God lovingly takes care of her – despite His deep suffering. How impressively His humanity is really shown here: He does not forget His mother. And how true it proves that true love does not seek its own (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:5).

As at the wedding in Cana, Jesus does not address Mary as “mother”, but as “woman”. He does not speak to her as Mary’s son, but as the Son of God, and gives her a new son: John, the disciple whom Jesus loves. John is the son of Mary’s sister, thus her nephew. To him, in turn, the Lord entrusts Mary; he is to care for her as for a mother, which he does immediately.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Daniel 8:1-14 · Acts 2:25-36