November 15, 2023
Behold, The True King!
(Some information may be too graphic for small children)
“Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” John 19:25-26 (NASB)
Kent Hughes offers a sobering look at this story; “Can anyone imagine the pain of those four women? Those of us who have lost loved ones in the spring of life can understand much more than the rest of us. Mary stood there before her son. When Jesus was an infant, she and his father took him to the temple to present him to the Lord. To their delight and surprise, the aged Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was overcome by the Holy Spirit, took the baby Jesus in his arms, and sang of the blessing he would bring. Then he blessed Jesus and said to Mary: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34–35) There, on the cross, was the baby Mary had nursed, the boy she had held, the man who had brought her nothing but joy. But now a sword was piercing her heart.”[1]
“Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” In this passage, we see four people: “Although the exact number of women mentioned here is questioned, John probably refers to 4 women rather than 3, i.e., two by name and two without naming them: 1) His mother” (Mary), 2) “His mother’s sister” (possibly Salome- Mark 15:40), she would have been the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 27:56, 57; Mark 15:40); 3) “Mary the wife of Cleopas” (the mother of James the younger and Joses- Matt. 27:56); and 4) Mary Magdalene (Magdelene signifies ‘Magdala’ a village on the W shore of Galilee, 2 or 3 mi. N of Tiberias). Mary Magdelene figures prominently in the resurrection account (see 20:1-18, cf. Luke 8:2-3 where Jesus healed her from demon possession).”[2] John (‘the disciple whom He loved’) was the only male at the crucifixion. “John is the only one of the apostles with courage enough to take his stand with the women by the Cross.”[3] “Woman, behold, your son!” The usage of Jesus’s word “woman,” was not used disrespectfully. It was a highly respectful and affectionate mode of address to His mother. It is also seen in His address to His mother in John 2:4, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus loved His mother. He knew her heart was breaking in two, but wanted her to know it was His time.
No parent knows this story better than the one who has lost a loved one. When a child dies, it doesn’t matter what age they are. It strikes the core of their life. It is like the deepest, darkest, and most painful moment of their life. You would rather die than see your child go through death. I know what it feels like. This wound you carry for the rest of your life. As my wife has said, “You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy.” I can say Jesus can heal your heart though. He gave all for you and me, and He says to us today, “Behold, Your King!”
[1] Hughes, R. K. (1999). (pp. 444–445). Crossway Books.
[2] (MacArthur, John, 1997). 1624.
[3] Robertson, A. T. (1933). (Jn 19:26). Broadman Press.