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Words full of Compassion

Jesus was being crucified and crucifixion was not the matter of just a few moments. It was a cruel slow lingering way of putting a man to death.

At the foot of the cross where Jesus was hanging a group of soldiers were playing dice to see who would be the lucky one – which of them would gain possession of the seamless tunic Jesus had worn. The rest of His clothes were divided between them and Jesus was left naked on the cross.

There was shame involved in this. All we have to do is to consider how Adam and Eve reacted when having disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden they realized they were naked. Then turn over a few pages and look at poor drunk Noah. How he cursed his son for finding him in his naked condition.

The soldiers were there keeping an eye on the crowd. As time wore on there were ebbs and flows in the crowd. Groups formed, split and then reformed. At times groups would approach the cross and then move further away. The soldiers had to make sure that a certain order was maintained. But they weren't worried when a small group of four women and just one man edged closer to the cross. Nothing to fear from them they thought.

And so the women came into sight of the crucified one. Perhaps some of them had provided Him with the clothing that the soldiers had just divided amongst themselves. After all one of the women was Jesus' own mother. Elsewhere we read that some of the women from Galilee had followed Him providing for His needs:

Mk.15:41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem."

As the group is standing there not far off from the cross Jesus catches sight of them and recognizes His mother and He speaks out.

Even on the cross He remains in charge of what is going on. He occupies the centre stage and is as ever the principal actor in the scene that now unfolds.

As we consider these verses we'll have to give some thought to the various ones who are party to what takes place. Nevertheless we must be careful not to lose sight of Him – it is essential that we maintain our focus upon Him and not to get distracted by the others.

It is to His words that we must listen. It is what He says that we need to understand. And we need to understand why He says what He does. As we do this and study how our Lord behaved in this demanding situation we'll be further convinced that He is worthy not merely of our admiration but also of our discipleship.

And so He speaks and He addresses His mother who remains unnamed in this passage.

While this lady played an important role in God's unfolding plan of salvation we must be careful not to overstate her role as so many do.

If we turn to the pages of the Bible we find that references to her are not abundant.

Yes, she figures in the genealogical list with which Matthew commences his gospel accounts. She then figures in various birth announcements before she gives birth to her first born son, Jesus. She goes with Joseph and Jesus away to Egypt to escape Herod's clutches and then subsequently returns to Nazareth where Jesus grows up. A number of years pass and we find her in Jerusalem with Joseph and Jesus for a religious festival when Jesus is 12 years old. We next read of her at Cana at a wedding where Jesus performs His first miracle. After that one brief mention of her at Capernaum when Jesus is preaching to the crowds.

The next time she is mentioned is here at the foot of the cross. After this particular event we'll only encounter one more time in Acts 1:14 at prayer with other believers. After which she disappears entirely from the pages of Holy Scripture. Never once in Scripture is she called the Virgin Mary.

And so Jesus sees His mother and speaks to her.

We can perhaps imagine something of her pain at this time. Mothers don't generally find it easy to stand by helplessly as their offspring suffer. And here Mary was standing watching a much-loved son suffer great ignominy and pain as He put to a slow agonizing death.

The words she'd heard many years earlier on the lips of aged Simeon in the Temple were indeed true. Then she had brought the 8 day old Jesus to the temple according to the requirements of the law and as Simeon cradled the boy, her boy, in his arms he had prophesised concerning her:

Lk.2: 35 "and a sword will pierce through your own soul also…"

Now she is standing by the cross and Jesus is dying. What pain! And Jesus speaks to her! What could be more normal than for a son to speak to his mother at such a time? But just what will He say?

Ø  "Woman"

As Jesus addresses His mother we hear a surprising word on His lips.

He does not call her "Mother" but "Woman". Now this word was not usually used when you spoke to your mother and we need to consider why Jesus might have chosen this way of addressing one who was so close to Him.

Firstly, we must underline that the word was by no means impolite. In English simply to address someone as "Woman" doesn't seem to terribly respectful but the word in the original carried no such negative connotations. In the southern US the term "Ma'am" perhaps comes closest (though in some families the term is used regularly for one's mother).

In using a respectful word, Jesus was perhaps deliberately trying to avoid the tender word "Mother" which might merely serve to add further sorrow and sadness to Mary's present grief by tugging at her emotional heartstrings.

But I think the major reason lies elsewhere. Jesus had in fact already spoken to Mary using the exact same word back at the wedding celebrations in Cana as He was entering upon His ministry. There it seems that Mary tried to use her influence to get Jesus to intervene. Such a meddling was inappropriate and Jesus replied to her with this same word "Woman".

Now what is the relevance of this?

Well Mary had to learn that while she was Jesus' mother she had to come to appreciate Him in a new way. He was her son and physically she stood in a unique relation to Jesus but He could no longer be understood in that light alone. In short Mary had to come to a realisation that the child she had born had come into the world in order to be her Saviour, the Saviour of the world.

The one now hanging on the cross was far more than her son – He was the King of Glory and the Prince of Peace – and she needed to relate to Him as such. She needed to realize that blood/family ties did not guarantee her an interest in the work of her son – she needed to come to Him in faith just as everyone else must if they are to benefit from His sacrificial death.

So in addressing His mother as "Woman" Jesus is underlining for her the need to view Him as He really is – her Saviour.

But in speaking to her this way does not mean that He has no special thoughts for her at this time. Yes, He is hanging on the cross paying the price for the sin of the world including the sin of His mother (nowhere does the Bible suggest that Mary was without sin and nowhere does the Bible hint that somehow Mary helped Jesus accomplish His ministry. Mary is no co-redemptrix she is the woman who prayed calling "God her Saviour" (Lk.1:47) and it's only sinners who need a saviour!)

ØBehold your son… Behold your mother

It is quite possible that as the eldest son in the family Jesus had born the responsibility for taking care of His mother before embarking of His ministry. It is likely that Joseph His legal father had died some time previously and it would have been the norm for the eldest son to step up and take over.

This would have been totally in line too with the 10 Commandments where the Divine command tells us that we are obligated to Honour our Parents.

Now it would soon be impossible for Jesus to continue to provide for His mother. But that does not mean that He stops caring. Here we find Him making the best provisions He can for His mother's well-being. You see she had no home in Jerusalem that was all the way back up north in Nazareth.

John is standing there alongside Mary and Jesus tells her that from now on she is to regard him as her son.

What better choice could He have made? John was already well-known to Mary – in all likelihood a nephew. John was the closest of His disciples – frequently called "the disciple that Jesus loved". He was the disciple who seemed to understand and sympathize with the Master more than any other of His disciples. To whom better could He entrust His mother?

And as Jesus commits Mary to John's safe-keeping He tells John that He is to treat her as his own mother – with warmth, care and consideration. And John responds immediately and positively. What an honour to be able to serve the Lord! What a high charge John has received but one which he has received gladly!

Now some wonder why Jesus did not entrusted His mother to other members of the family. Well here are a couple of reasons: Firstly, there is no solid indication that any of His brothers were actually present in Jerusalem at the time and Mary stood in need or urgent help. Secondly, none of His brothers appear to have believed in Him until after His resurrection – and it was important that she be protected spiritually too.

What an example this man Jesus has left for us! In the midst of such suffering He is still moved with loving compassion and still ready and able to make provision for those for whom He has responsibility. From the beginning of His life to the very end we observe Him fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law of God.

Now exactly at which moment John took Mary to his home is perhaps not quite clear. Some suggest that she is unlikely to have left the crucifixion scene until everything had run its course. However it is quite possible that Jesus wanted to spare His mother the sight of His last hours upon the cross. Did He ask John to take her away at that moment? That would certainly fit with the words that follow:

Jn.19:27 "And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home."

If that were indeed the case we have a further indication of just how great Jesus' compassion was. When we're ill or suffering we so often want our loved ones about us. Here instead of looking to His own interests He graciously provides for His mother.

So as we have listened to some more of the words that Jesus spoke from the cross we have been brought face to face with the loving caring compassion of our Lord Jesus.

Earlier we'd seen that on the cross Jesus had not forgotten His enemies – He prayed fro them.

Then we saw that He didn't ignore a fellow-sufferer but when the repentant thief cried out to Him Jesus responded with the promise of a place in paradise.

Now we have found that He doesn't forget His family ties and makes highly suitable provision for His mother.

Surely this is a man whom you can trust! Surely as you see how good He is in all His deeds you can commit yourself to Him! Surely this is a man whose commands you can accept with confidence!

To God be the Glory!

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