Jesus' Seven Last Words from the Cross: the third word

John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Woman, behold thy son!

Disciple, behold thy mother! 

Jesus establishes the foundation of the new Christian family, a spiritual covenant, a bond based not on blood or biology but faith and discipleship

Mary is archetypal mother, the universal maternal role, a symbol of motherhood, compassion, unyielding faith with a divine love that extends to all disciples through Jesus 

John is the archetypal disciple, loyal, responsible, and embodying a role that represents that all believers are adopted into Gods family

Jesus chooses his brother in spirit, John to behold thy mother and in doing this Jesus confirms he has redefined the family, as illustrated in Matthew 12:50 

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Christ highlights that the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb

By our faith in him we too are part of this covenant family  

Bound by love and mutual responsibility

Despite her immense grief Mary’s faith and trust in golds plan never wavers she symbolises hope

showing that suffering can be endured with grace and faith in Gods plan, faith that leads to spiritual refinement and salvation through Christ 

She surrenders to the Lord 

And even with the weight of the worlds sin on his shoulders, and the excruciating pain of the cross, Jesus remains the perfect example of pure selflessness 

He fulfils the commandment in Exodus 20:12 by honouring his mother 

Even in his final moments, he is praying for his mother, he is praying for his disciples, he is praying for us