November 16, 2023

Entrusted But Not Elevated

(Some information may be too graphic for small children)

“Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household” John 19:27(NASB)

            I wonder what the world would be like without Social Security. Would the family unit continue to take care of the mother and father as they reach their days when help is needed? Today, we have the benefit of care and hospice centers. Most are covered under insurance, or by private pay. In Jesus’s time, the family was regulated to take care of their parents. They were the insurance policy for the family. They cared for those who cared for them.

             “Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!” As Jesus hung upon the cross, the words He spoke had to be important, drawing one breath at a time. One might even be tempted to elevate Mary to a position of leadership within the church from His statement. The Catholic Church has done so. Never up until this date had Jesus implied or instructed the apostles to honor her or to follow her. Moreover, Jesus instructed John (the unknown disciple) that she was part of this new family; the family of God made possible by the death of Jesus. This family of people who were forgiven of their sins was responsible to love and provide mutual care for those within the new family unit. Another commentator says this: “It is customary in Catholic theology to see this word as a commending of John, and through him all Christ’s disciples, to the patronage of Mary. For example, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen remarks, ‘When our Lord spoke of John, he did not refer to him as John for then he would have been only the son of Zebedee. Rather, in him all humanity was commended to Mary, who became the mother of men, not by metaphor, or figure of speech, but by pangs of birth.’ Actually, the opposite was the case. Jesus did not commend John to Mary, but Mary to John. The real meaning of this episode is that Jesus was caring for his mother and thus fulfilling the Old Testament commandment to ‘honor thy father and thy mother’ (Exod. 20:12) (Boice, V, p. 212).”[1] The choice here is to see Jesus entrusted Mary to John for Jesus’s own family had not yet accepted His deity. John would become responsible for the “true interpretation of the revelation he has proclaimed and embodied.”[2] “From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” Spence says, “From that hour, says the evangelist, the disciple took her (εἰς τὰ ἴδια) to his own home. This may have been some temporary lodging in Jerusalem, but it is more probable, as we have seen, that Salome and John had homes both in Jerusalem (see Introduction, p. lvi.) and Capernaum. It is not necessary to believe that John at once removed the sacred deposit and bequest of his dying Lord to that home, though it is just possible. Bengel and many others think so, but it is not necessary to limit the meaning of ‘hour’ to the moment. The departure could hardly have taken place till all was over.”[3]

            In today’s time, we see Jesus entrusting Mary to John. Jesus was leaving and would need someone to care for her. Her physical care would be important, but more importantly her spiritual care was left to John. Today, we too should take care of our parents. While not every family situation can be handled, we have systems in place to assist us. Still, care for them.

[1] Gangel, K. O. (2000). John (Vol. 4, p. 351). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[2] Lincoln, A. T. (2005). The Gospel according to Saint John (p. 477). Continuum.

[3] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). St. John (Vol. 2, p. 431). Funk & Wagnalls Company.