TEXT: ST. JOHN 19:26-27
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.
Now there stood by the Cross, the Jews – satisfying their fiendish craving for His death. Roman soldiers were there for duty, but Jesus noticed a small company of five who were “trophies of divine favor”. He knew they were there because of their affection or love for Him.
This small company was composed of four women and one man. Five is the number of “grace”.
- There was Mary, the Savior’s mother – now experiencing the flashback of a prophecy spoken thirty years before by Simeon in Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
- Mary the wife of Cleophas; Mary’s sister.
- Mary Magdalene: one from whom Christ cast out seven devils; the one he appeared to first when he arose from the dead.
- Mary, Lazarus’ sister.
- John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Here Jesus is hanging naked on the Cross. His clothing stripped from Him by Roman soldiers, who greedily played games for His garments. They threw dice to divide the four articles of clothing among themselves.
Keep in mind, His mother has been there all along. Her own safety, sadness or insults of the crowd couldn’t keep her from performing her last duty and office and tenderness toward her Divine Son on the Cross. In the supreme hour of agony when the world has cast out the child of her womb, she stands there baffled and paralyzed at his suffering but yet bound by the golden chains of love to the dying one.