The third verse that Jesus spoke on the cross is from John 19: 26-27
Jesus made this statement not only to demonstrate His filial love towards Mary but I believe its also an acknowledgement of Mary’s sacrifices for Him. While we focus our meditation on the supreme sacrifice of Jesus, let’s also take a moment to look at Mary’s sacrifice while we meditate on this word (I believe Mary is blessed among all women and not more than that).
Mary’s background:
Nazareth, at the time of Jesus was a very small village surrounded by hills and not connected to any roadway with an approximate population of 200 to 400 people.
- Its located roughly 55 miles north of Jerusalem and between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea.
- During the time of Jesus, the Jews held those from Nazareth, a city within the region of Galilee, in low esteem. That could explain why Nathaniel said to Philip “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” John 1:46
- Even now (as of 2021), Nazareth is a small town with population of around 77,000
Mary’s sacrifices:
Let’s look at the sacrifices made by Mary, as mentioned in the gospels:
- Age: In ancient Jewish culture (at the time of Jesus), the normal age for betrothal was between 12 and 15. Mary was most likely in her early teens when the Angel visited her! A girl in her early teens, implicitly obeying as soon as the Angel informs her that she’ll be pregnant by the Holy Spirit is astonishing. Jewish culture is a highly conservative society and pregnancy before marriage was not just frowned upon but Mary would have been stoned to death had Joseph reported it.
- Peer pressure: Nazareth, being a small village would have been a close knit community with many of her relatives living there.
- Though the Jews were expecting a Messiah after being slaves in Egypt, captives in Babylon and ruled by Rome, I don’t think people would have believed her and thought that this was a child out of wedlock. She would have dealt with that stigma until Jesus’ resurrection.
- Even Jesus half-brothers didn’t believe his claims and tried to bring him home as they thought He was crazy (Mark 3:21). Mary would have dealt with a lot of pressure from her relatives and religious leaders in the local community.
- Journeys: Mary had to make some journeys just because she accepted God’s will:
- Judea: Mary traveled around 90 miles by walk while pregnant (might have been 1st trimester) to a town in the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:36). Maybe she undertook this journey to share her excitement with her cousin with someone who believed her or to get some emotional support.
- Bethlehem: Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem by donkey for the census. Bethlehem was 70 miles if they had traveled through Samaria but it was a treacherous route (hill country) with hostile people and the journey would have been 90 miles if they had taken a safer alternate route. Remember, a donkey can travel only around 20 miles per day and it would have taken 4 to 7 days in her last trimester for this journey. This journey was only to fulfill old testament prophecy Micah 5:2-4
- Jerusalem: They traveled to Jerusalem (55 miles) for the 40th day purification ceremony (this was when Simeon & Anna prophecized). This was as per Jewish custom that every family did but it added to her trips.
- Egypt: Finally, they traveled to Egypt to escape from Herod (which was at least 40 miles to go beyond Herod’s territory). Matthew 2: 13-14
- If Mary has not obeyed the angel, married Joseph and given birth to Joseph’s baby, she wouldn’t have to undergo all these sacrifices. She would have led a normal life just like any other woman (she was actually a teenage girl).
Mary’s perspective of Jesus
Mary willingly and happily made all these sacrifices because she believed Jesus would become a king who would redeem Israel from the Romans. Here are a few references from the Bible that explain this:
- The Angel visits Mary and says she’s highly favored – Luke 1:30-33 The Angel said “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
- When she visited her cousin Elizabeth whose baby leaps in her womb when Mary arrives. Elizabeth was anointed by the Holy Spirit and refers to her as “mother of my Lord”(Luke 1:43) .
- In Mary’s song, she states “from now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48)
- Joseph would have told her that an angel visited him also. As instructed by the angel, they named the baby Jesus based on the Hebrew name “Yeshua” which means “Yahweh Saves”.
- The shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) and wise men (Matthew 2:1-12) visited them.
- Simeon’s prophecy – “this child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel” ( Luke 2:29-32). Anna the prophetess, prophecized about redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38)
Character traits of Mary:
- Humility: When the Angel told her that she’ll bear her child, she didn’t question the angel like Zacharias did and humbly asked how is it possible? (as she wasn’t married)
- Obedient: She didn’t think about the consequences of how her family and society would treat her. and implicitly obeyed That’s extraordinary given that she was in her early teens.
- Believed in Jesus’ divinity: She literally kick started Jesus’ ministry. At the wedding in Cana, she came to Jesus when there was no wine. Jesus had not started His ministry then but she came to Jesus expecting Him to resolve the situation (Remember, Jesus was trained to be a carpenter in His childhood) John 2 She was instrumental in Jesus performing His first miracle.
- Pondered in her heart: When Shepherds told about Angels, everyone wondered but Mary pondered everything in her heart Luke 2:18-19 Again, when Jesus was discussing the scriptures with religious teachers at 12 years, everyone was amazed at His wisdom and understanding but Mary pondered it in her heart (Luke 2:51)
- Followed Jesus: History says she became an active member of the early church along with Jesus’ half-brothers. She would have played an active role in giving a first hand account of Jesus’ birth and early life when the gospels were written.
- Love for Jesus: Though Jesus was charged with serious offenses and condemned to death, she stayed with Him till the end though most of His followers and disciples deserted Him.
So far, we saw how Mary came from a very humble background, was chosen to bring Jesus into this world and made many sacrifices with the belief that Jesus would rule the Jews and deliver them from the Romans. Just like the other Jews, she would have read the scriptures but haven’t got the full picture yet. Though she would have read Isaiah 53, I don’t think she would have understood that Jesus would have to die on the cross (until His resurrection). Jesus told his disciples thrice that He would be be delivered to the high priests, crucified and would rise up on the third day but there are no references in the Bible that Mary was with the disciples and there’s no way the disciples would have communicated the message to Jesus’ family.
Mary would have come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover festival and when she heard that Jesus was condemned to death, her world would have come crashing down (that’s an understatement). She would have watched the events unfold in a state of shock and horror.
We know that Jesus was fully God and fully man. We can look at this statement (John 19:26-27) from two perspectives, a son towards his mother and as God towards woman in pain.
Jesus’ perspective as man:
First of all let me clarify that there is no disrespect in the Lord’s use of the title woman instead of mother. The address may sound disrespectful in English, but not in Greek. Guné, the Greek word that was used was in fact, “a highly respectful and affectionate mode of address”
Bible scholars say that Joseph was most likely dead at the time of crucifixion as there’s no reference of him in the Bible after the incident at the temple when Jesus was 12 years old. As per Jewish tradition, the eldest son needs to pass on care giving responsibility to his siblings when he’s dying. Matthew 13:55-56 records Jesus’ half-brothers as James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (he had sisters as well) but he didn’t give the responsibility to them. Matthew 12:46 (may be because they didn’t believe Jesus’ claims Mark 3:21). In this way, He cared for the physical as well as the spiritual well being of Mary. When Jesus said these words, a new spiritual family was born right at the foot of the cross.
Jesus’ perspective as God:
The other perspective is Jesus as God addressing Mary’s pain. Its very hard for a parent to watch a child die but words cannot describe Mary’s agony. She watched in agony as her innocent child was condemned to death, scourged, mocked and crucified. To add to that she saw the disciples betray Him, desert Him and deny Him. The people who welcomed Him saying “Hosanna” a few days ago were shouting “Crucify Him” and though there were thousands who experienced His miracles, they were silent spectators (those who were still there).
She might have remembered Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:35). Is this that sword that Simeon referred to? To add to her pain people would have mocked her, judged her, shamed her and criticized her also (its human nature to say you should have done this, done that etc when things go wrong). Mary could have stayed away from the crucifixion site unable to watch her son suffer and die but she chose to place her pain and agony at the foot of the cross. And Jesus answered her tears as a God who wipes every tear. Jesus who said “Come unto me all who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest“. Matthew 11:28 took care of Mary’s pain.
Just look at how Mary’s remembered now. Just as she sang in Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55), all generations regard her as blessed among all women. The town well in Nazareth is now called Mary’s well.
Lessons for us:
- Humility and Obedience – Mary remained true to her calling, irrespective of how the world treated her. If God has chosen you for His purpose, the journey may be hard but the end would be great.
- Doubts about promises – Various incidents in Jesus’ life could have caused doubts about God’s promises to her, but she held on to her faith irrespective of all hurdles or circumstances.
- Dealing Peer pressure – Right from the day she conceived before her marriage, she would have dealt with peer pressure from her family, relatives and community but she didn’t relent and focused on the bigger purpose.
- Dealing with pain – Bring pain to foot of the cross – If Jesus could address someone’s pain while He was suffering on the cross, He’s seated on the throne now and in a much better position to address our pains.
- Treating others going thru pain – Whenever we see someone going through pain, let’s make sure we don’t do how the world treated Mary i.e. not judge them or gossip about them but be of meaningful help and support.
- Make this sacrifice count – As always, both these sacrifices (Jesus & Mary’s) are meaningless if we don’t make use of them. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” John 15:4
References:
https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/the-journeys-of-mary-and-joseph.html
https://www.reference.com/history-geography/distance-between-nazareth-bethlehem-6ac7e95c8360c7c7
https://aleteia.org/2017/01/24/biblical-travel-how-far-to-where-and-what-about-the-donkey/
https://www.gotquestions.org/Mary-treasured-these-things-in-her-heart.html