Behold Thy Mother (A Mother’s Day Message from the Life of Jesus)

John 19:1–27

1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Note: Mary proudly holds her newborn baby boy as she and her husband enter the temple court. 

Note: Today they have made the short trip from Bethlehem to dedicate her firstborn son to the Lord.

Note: As they make their way through the crowd, an elderly man spots them. 

Note: His name is Simeon. 

Note: God has revealed to him that he will not die until he sees the Messiah. 

Note: Now that day has come. Note: To Mary’s surprise, Simeon takes her baby in his arms and praises God Note: The old man’s words amaze Mary and Joseph. 

Note: But Simeon is not finished. 

Note: He looks at the boy’s mother and says, Luke 2:34 (KJV) “. . . . Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against”

Note: As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. Note: Then Simeon says something Mary never forgot. “And a sword will pierce your very soul (See Luke 2:21-35.) Note: Fast forward 33 years. Now Mary understands Simeon’s prophecy.

Note: The little baby that she had once held in her arms is now hanging on a Roman cross. 

Note: And her soul is pierced. Note: The sign above His head reads, “This is Jesus of Nazareth.” But Mary weeps as she thinks, “This is my Son.” Note: She remembers kissing her boy’s brow as she put Him to bed. 

Note: Now that brow is marred by a crown of thorns.

Note: She remembers guiding his tiny hands and feet as He learned to walk. 

Note: Now those hands and feet are nailed to a cross.

Note: She remembers rubbing His back to consol her crying Son. 

Note: Now that back is bloodied and beaten. Note: As Mary surveys the heartbreaking scene, her mind goes back to a happier visit to Jerusalem. 

Note: It was 22 years ago. 

Note: Jesus was twelve. 

Note: It was his first time Mary and Joseph had taken Jesus on their pilgrimmage from Nazareth to observe the Passover. 

Note: She recalls how excited her Son was to see the temple.

Note: But most of all, she remembers the journey home. 

Note: Jesus was missing. 

Note: In a panic, she and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem.

Note: They finally found Him in the temple. “Son,” Mary scolded Him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” Note: Jesus replied, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 

Note: Mary didn’t understand what He meant.

Note: But as the years passed by, she began to realize that His life would be shaped by His Father’s will, not His mother’s dreams. (See Luke 2:41-50.) Note: Now as Mary stands beside her Son’s cross, she understands that Jesus is finishing the final piece of His Father’s business.

Note: But still, her soul is pierced.

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jesus after this act – looks at His Mother. 

Note: Some have suggested that the garment might have been made by Mary, Jesus’ mother, we are not sure. 

Note: On the cross we hear the last words of Jesus: The last words really allow us to see into the soul of a man: 

Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:43 (KJV) “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” His last breathe he was helping others.

John 19:26-27 Woman, behold thy son! - Behold thy mother! 

John 19:28  I thirst.

Luke 23:46 Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

These were the last words of the Lord Jesus: Here are the last words of others - • “I’m bored with it all.” Who: Winstin Churchill, before slipping into a coma and dying nine days later. • “The sadness will last forever.” Who: Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter • “Don’t you dare ask God to help me.” Who: Joan Crawford. This comment was directed towards her housekeeper who began to pray aloud. • “I shall be with Christ, and that is enough.” Who: Michael Faraday, British scientist. He was asked, “Have you ever pondered by yourself what will be your occupation in the next world?”

Note: When Jesus said – today you will be with me in Paradise – He was thinking of the Criminal at his side. 

Note: When Jesus said – behold your son – he was thinking about his Mother. 

Note: At the time of Jesus’ death Mary was probably about 45-50 years old. 

Note: Because there is no word about Joseph in them coming to Jerusalem – It would seem that Mary was probably a widow. 

Note: Jesus looks at Mary and tells her that John (the disciple in whom Jesus loves) would now be your son.

Note: Mary was not deity as some religions would treat her

Note: After Acts 1:14 – nothing is spoken about her in the New Testament

Note: But Mary was a good woman. 

Note: She is a picture of the purest and best of womanhood.