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Second Saying of Jesus From the CrossText: John 19:25-27 “Woman Behold thy Son, Son Behold thy Mother”
1. It was a mixed crowd gathered at the Cross.
a. Religious Leaders
b. Those incited to mob action
c. Curious on-lookers
d. Soldiers
e. Faithful women
1. Mother of Jesus
I. She Stood “by the Cross of Jesus.”
A. What a terrible ordeal – for a mother to watch the
agonized sufferings of her beloved son.
B. From Luke 2:21-35 we learn that when the day’s of
Mary’s purification were ended they brought Jesus to
Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord and to offer a
sacrifice in accordance with the Law of Moses.
1. There was in Jerusalem a man by the name of Simeon.
2. Simeon was just and devout, and the Holy Spirit was
upon him.
3. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that
he should not see death, before he had seen the
promised Messiah.
4. When Jesus was brought into the temple, he began to
prophecy.
5. Among his prophecies was this: that “a sword should
pierce through the soul of Mary.”
C. At the Cross, she could scarcely stand the heart –
rendering scene, but her motherly instincts would cause
her to remain at the scene until the very last.
1. The life of Christ is being drained from him – There
is no hope for him, vis, in so far as a continued
life on earth was concerned.
2. Certainly the sword was through her heart as she
suppressed the agonies of grief and sorrow.
D. Look at the Mother of Jesus as she stood “By the
Cross.”
1. Think of the Suffering She Had to Witness, and the
Spectacle She Had to See.
a. She had to witness the Agonizing Death, the
Shame, and the Indignation heaped upon her son.
b. Many a strong heart has failed at the death-bed
of a loved one; But She Stood At the Death-Cross
of Her Son.
2. Think of the Public Scorn and Ridicule to Which She
Was Exposed.
a. She was doubtless known to many of the clamoring
mob.
b. It was not at all fashionable – in fact, most
improper for women to appear at such a scene –
But, at a time like this – She Cared Not For
Social Propriety or Public Scorn.
3. Think of her Personal Danger.
a. AS the Mother of the Crucified one, in the very
midst of his Impassioned Enemies, Her Life Could
Well Have Been in Jeopardy – But under the
Circumstances her life meant nothing – So she
stood there Face to Fact With Death!
b. How Admirable Her Actions Are – What Sorrows She
Bore.
II. We Cannot Help But Be Astonished At the Forethought and
Wisdom Exercised By the Dying Savior.
A. He had already Prayed for his Murderers – and now He
turns his thoughtful attention to the Mother who stood
weeping among her friends.
B. A minute’s thought will remind us all of the absorbing
nature of extreme bodily suffering.
1. In the hour of agony it is hard for the sufferer to
think of anything except his own pains and torture.
2. Ye, even amidst the anguish of Body and of Mind which
he was then enduring, the Savior was able to turn
away his thoughts from himself to her who gave him
birth – who had often shared the honors and the
trials of his ministry – and who had now with Noble
fortitude and sympathy, come to witness his death.
C. Jesus had loved his mother all his life, and his love
was never more grateful, more tender, more compassionate
than now.
1. This act of compassion toward his mother was
performed under this most trying circumstances.
2. It was done amidst the most excruciating suffering –
Physical, mental, and spiritual.
3. It was done in the Very Act of Dying
4. Done when performing the most important work of his
life.
a. He was bearing the burden of a world’s sin and
sorrow; He was providing the spiritual needs of
the world.
b. Yet, while he made atonement for Sin, satisfied
justice, and honored the law, there was still room
in his sacred heart for affectionate thoughts of
his beloved Mother.
III. When Jesus therefore saw his Mother, and the disciple
standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,
“Woman, behold thy son. Then saith he to his disciple,
Behold, thy Mother!”
A. As Jesus looked upon his mother, he saw that the
prediction made by Simeon was now fulfilled.
1. Truly a Sword was piercing through her heart.
B. Death, which was so near, would bring an end to all of
his earthly relationships.
1. His life is nearly gone – His mother in the agonies
of grief and sorrow is in Need of Comfort and Care.
C. So, He entrusted her to the care of his best earthly
friend, One With the Means and the Heart – The Will and
the Way.
1. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved – the one who had
laid his head on the master’s chest at the Supper –
Proper it was that he should take his station at the
Master’s Cross.
2. Jesus, who had loved him in life, cherished the same
affection towards John in his own hour of anguish,
hence-----
3. It was a mark of loving Confidence in John as he was
selected to comfort Mary in her widowhood, for Joseph
was evidently now dead.
4. Christ could do Nothing else.
a. He had no estate to bequeath to her, but he had a
loving heart at his command, which would ever be
kind to her.
b. And who so fit to take his place – as far as that
place could be take – as the beloved disciple.
c. The pain as intense as it is, will soon be over,
but the Father in heaven will remain, with whom
Jesus will dwell in Power and glory, and the
mother on earth will remain provided for, through
the ministry of a trusted friend----
d. A friend who was now to be another Son – One who
would never cease to care for her – a Very Present
help.
e. The charge was promptly accepted, and faithful
carried out – “And from that hour that disciple
took her to his own home.”
D. There were those Nearer of Kin, but None could be nearer
in heart to Mary than the most intimate and Trusted
friend of Jesus.
1. Thus, it was assured that Mary would be removed from
the distressing scene and would be assured of
constant and affectionate care.
2. Love and wisdom went together in this act of the Son
of Man.
IV. Our Lord Addresses His Mother As “Woman.”
A. This was not a term of disrespect, for disrespect can
never be associated with the Lord.
1. He said “Woman” not “Mother” – and Pointing to John,
Not to himself, He said “Behold thy Son”. This was
the same as saying, “Henceforth I Cease to be thy
Son, and you cease to be my mother.”
2. From this moment onward, she had to think of him, Not
as her son, but as her Lord and Savior.”
V. From these words of Jesus on the cross, but us learn a
lesson of Vital importance.
A. Human Relations Belong to this World.
1. They belong to the Natural, physical and visible
order of things.
B. Christ spoke of and treated such relationships as
inferior to Spiritual relationships.
1. Christ was the most obedient, affectionate, and
exemplary of Sons, yet he always spoke of his
Spiritual and Divine relationship as being superior
and more important ----
2. Spoke of those relationships arising from a Divine
and Spiritual birth – from the will of God – as
superior to those arising from physical birth, or the
will of the flesh.
3. Once, when told that his Mother and his brethren were
outside seeking him, he said, Mark 3:33-35 “Who is my
Mother, or my brethren…” (Read)
4. The Spiritual and Divine relationships always took
precedence over those of the flesh.
C. Even So – He recognized that natural and physical
relationships involves certain responsibilities and
obligations.
1. These relationships involve providing for the support
and comfort of our relatives.
2. From the Cross, Christ showed he regarded his widowed
Mother as dependent upon him for support and comfort,
and he felt it his sacred duty to provide for her.
D. This action of Jesus shows that even though the
Spiritual is to be regarded as superior to the physical,
the Spiritual does not relieve one of his material
duties.
Conclusion:
1. While we admire Jesus because of his thoughtful action toward
his mother while suffering on the cross, let us not loose
sight of why he was on that Cross.
a. Was it not because He was thinking of you – of me – of all
mankind.
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