Daily Devotions
John
John 19:16-42 "WOMAN, BEHOLD, YOUR SON"
Day 314 – John 19
“WOMAN, BEHOLD, YOUR SON”
How difficult it must have been for Jesus to say anything at all, as He saw His life’s force slowly ebb away. Nevertheless, He found the strength to speak to His beloved earthly mother.
The phrase, “Behold, your son” must be read carefully. Some have mistaken the word “son” to be a reference to Jesus! But this wasn’t what Jesus meant.
1. The careful guarding of the Father-Son relationship
The meaning becomes lots clearer when we study the text of God’s Word more carefully. It must be observed that the Gospels never described Jesus addressing Himself as Son to anybody but God the Father! The Synoptists carefully avoided saying that Jesus addressed Himself as Son to Mary!
This fact becomes even more obvious when we read the Gospel of John carefully. Jesus was most careful in guarding His unique Father-Son relationship. To nobody else, did Jesus use the word “Son”- to depict a special relationship! He certainly was not making a reference to Himself at the Cross.
2. The establishing of a careful relationship between Jesus and Mary
While Jesus must have loved His mother, Mary, at no time did He confuse a personal and family relationship with His divine calling as the Son of Man. Jesus never showed disrespect to His mother, but neither did He ever suggest that there was an extra-special relationship between them!
Jesus had always addressed Mary in the usual way he would have greeted a woman in society. He would speak with due respect. But that was far as He went!
3. A definite reference to John
Jesus knew that His siblings had not come to believe in Him as the Messiah at that point of time. He knew His mother’s deepest needs. How does a mother feel when she sees her earthly son, notwithstanding the fact that He was the Messiah, being crucified to death?
There would be tears. There would be pain and anguish. There would be sorrow too deep for words! What would her other children say to her at this point of time, if they had not come to faith in Jesus? How would they be able to understand her, let alone comfort her in her time of special sorrow?
Jesus would have loved to speak many more words to His beloved mother. But to a thoughtful, loving mother, four words “Woman, behold your son” said volumes! Those words were enough! She would not want Him to feel more pain than He had already been enduring. She knew that every effort to speak must have caused excruciating pain!
It does not take much to satisfy a mother who has depth of faith and love. She understood all that Jesus meant when He gave John to be her son. He would take care of her as He would have wanted to, if He had been able.
“BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER”
John was arguably closest to Jesus! Peter may have been the leader of the band of Disciples, but John was the one described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. What a tender descriptive phrase that was!
A Disciple’s Recall
What did John recall as he stood at the cross of Jesus with the other women? As Jesus’ eyes met his, and as he listened to what Jesus said, he might have recalled how he first became a Disciple – one of the very first Disciples in fact.
1. An invitation to become a disciple of Jesus
One does not forget a special invitation to become a Disciple of Jesus! Not everybody was invited to be a Disciple. John was! Without any regret, John responded and he gave up his fishing business to follow Jesus (John 1:35-42).
2. Witnessing the miracles Jesus performed
How does one forget a miracle where water turned into wine? How could one not be impacted by the many miracles Jesus performed? John was a witness of the power that Jesus wielded!
3. Hearing the Messages Jesus preached
What a privilege it was to hear Jesus preach! What an even greater privilege it was to have Jesus as a personal Tutor! John had heard the public sermons preached to the multitudes in the open countryside and in synagogues. How many had been touched by the way He ministered. There was such power and authority in His voice! His teaching and preaching ministry was incomparably superior!
4. Observing Jesus close up
What a privilege it was for the Disciples to live together with their beloved Master. He would always be the first to wake up. He would always be the last to sleep. There was tremendous energy in His life. He possessed such wisdom and sensitivity. Who would not be impacted by Jesus if he had a chance to see Him close up?
5. Befriended by Jesus
Even more precious was the personal friendship that Jesus gave to His Disciples. He Himself had said,
“You are My friends … No longer do I call you
servants … but I have called you friends …”
John 15:14-15
Jesus had given to John a deep and loving friendship! And now Jesus was entrusting His dear mother to his care. Of course, he would be delighted to obey! John understood what his Divine Friend meant. He took Mary into his home on!