25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Our verses for today record a wonderfully striking incident compared to the clamor and hatred of the Jews and the mocking of the Roman soldiers. The tender affections of the pious women who attended our Lord’s needs – throughout His ministry to His crucifixion – are here displayed forever in Holy Writ. Even amidst the taunting crowds and rough soldiers these women were determined to stand by Jesus until the very end in a loving demonstration of their holy affection and gratitude towards Him. While His enemies eagerly and quite literally crowned Him with thorns, they lavishly crowned Him with their love and compassion washing Him with their tears and consoling Him by their faithfulness.
Remembering that our Lord was a condemned criminal - sorely hated by the chief priests and executed by the Romans - it was certainly courageous, admirable and selfless of these ladies to take their place by the Lord throughout His abhorrent ordeal. They were neither deterred by the fury of the enemy nor the horror of the sight. Their actions were glorious proof of their love for their Savior. Yet, all the while their hearts were breaking under the sight of the Suffering Servant - unable to rescue or relieve Him - their hearts bleeding along with His wounds. Certainly they were strengthened by divine grace and power throughout this ordeal as His grace is always sufficient to meet our needs. I am reminded of the words penned by Paul in 2 Corinthians:
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV)
They were a testimony to God’s love being made complete in them:
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6 (NIV)
Surely the prophecy Simeon had proclaimed to the Lord’s mother Mary when Jesus was yet an infant reached its fulfillment at this time – a sword had to be piercing her soul at the sight of her suffering Son:
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:34-35 (NIV)
Interestingly, when all men - save one - forsook our Lord, more than one woman boldly confessed Him. Women were the last at the cross as well as the first at the tomb – always seeking to minister to His needs. Mark expands our knowledge of this in his gospel:
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. Mark 15:40-41 (NIV)
“Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; Give heart and soul and mind and strength To serve the King of kings. Lift high the cross of Christ, Tread where His feet have trod; As brothers of the Son of Man, Rise up, O men of God!” William P. Merrill
Surely Jesus’ Words from the cross served as yet another example of why these women loved Him so. Suffering and in great anguish, the width and depth of our Lord’s sympathies and affections still shone through His darkest hour. Even in this trying season of bodily and mental anguish, Jesus did not forget others. Every Word He uttered from the cross benefitted His hearers. He spoke of forgiveness of those who crucified Him – praying for His brutal murderers:
34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 (NIV)
He had not forgotten about the fellow sufferers by His side. When one of those being crucified with Him in faith and repentance asked to be remembered, He promised him a speedy entrance with Him into Paradise:
43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43 (NIV)
And in our verses for today, He did not forget His mother. He saw her deep distress and tenderly cared for her desolate condition – left alone in a wicked world. He therefore commended her to the care of John, the most loving and tender hearted of His disciples. Jesus’ love surpasses knowledge. The world is full of shallow, skin-deep feelings for others which continually disappoint and leave us cold. But the mighty love and affection of Jesus knows no limit. Regarding Christ’s love Paul states:
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph 3:17-19 (NIV)
“His love is unfailing, His Word unchangeable, His power ever the same; therefore the heart that trusts Him is kept in ‘perfect peace’...I know He tries me only to increase my faith, and that it is all in love. Well, if He is glorified, I am content.” Hudson Taylor