Jesus Entrusts Mary and John to Each Other

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 27Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. John 19:25-27

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Quite remarkable when you see this moment from the cross as literally Jesus last act. It is this moment that concludes his life's work. Mary has been walking with Jesus his whole life. She was present at the beginning of of miraculous ministry at the wedding of Cana and is now here with her son right at the “end" of it all. John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, is there as well. While others had abandoned Him, John had not. Faithful. True. Loyal. And something quite remarkable is beginning to take shape even before Jesus final breath and the imminent coming of the Holy Spirit to birth the Ecclesia of Christ - the Church - into existence. A new family is emerging.

It is so human. So humane.

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Here is your son. Here is your mother. From that hour, the text is clear, John takes the mother of Jesus into his own home. It takes one back to Jesus words in Matthew 14:46-50

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46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothersstood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

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This goes certainly beyond the platitudes, programs and posturing that fein themselves to be the Church. It is in this tender moment that we see a reflection of the community and new society that Jesus is literally dying for.

Let us see with the eyes of Christ each other. Here is your son. Here is your mother. In the very shadow of suffering and death itself, we can find love. We can find each other. We can care for each other and lift each others burdens together. Jesus compels us. Jesus graces us. Jesus liberates us. Jesus - God - is love.

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Art by Scott Erickson