25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Verse 25 transitions to those who loved Jesus.
19:25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother,
Four women stood by the cross. One of them was Jesus’ mother.
and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
Nothing is known of this Mary in either the Bible or extra-biblical documents. There is no information about the identity of Clopas.
and Mary Magdalene.
This is the Mary from whom Jesus exorcised seven demons (Lu 8:2). She appears again in John 20:1-2, 11-18. Magdala was a village north of Tiberius on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. There is no evidence that this woman was a person of ill repute. This myth is still extant in the 21st century.
19:26
When Jesus therefore saw His mother,
Jesus could see His mother from the cross. He saw her grief and thought about what her future might be. His brothers and sisters were currently in Galilee.
and the disciple whom He loved standing by,
The disciple whom Jesus loved was the author of this book, John himself (Jn 13:23).
He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
This is the third saying of Jesus from the cross but the first recorded by John. Jesus had already prayed for His Roman executioners (Lu 23:34) and given a pardon to a thief (Lu 23:42-43).
The word “woman” does not carry an impolite implication as it would today. Jesus simply placed His mother under the care of the apostle John.
19:27
Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!”
Mary’s husband, Joseph, was probably dead at this time. Since Jesus was about to die, He delegated the responsibility of care for His mother to the apostle John.
And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
John took Mary into his home for a long-standing period.
PRINCIPLE:
Provision for the family is the will of God.
APPLICATION:
Even in the major crisis of His life and in the agony of crucifixion Jesus cared for His mother. He took seriously His responsibility to care for His parent.
Mary had no control of the events her Son faced. There is nothing in this passage about Mary being elevated above the disciples. Rather, she was placed in the care of the apostle John.
