John 19:25–27

In the fifth branch of this part of the chapter we have recorded, what was Christs care of his mother, who, with two other women, and John the beloved disciple, (as is gathered from v 26. with chap 21, 20 24.) did stand beside his Crosse. Christ in the midst of his suffering, taking notice of her sorrowful and desolate condition, (he being to die and depart from her, and Joseph being dead, as would appear,) He recommends her to John as a Mother to her Son; who accordingly takes her home with him, and careth for her. It is said Mark 15.40, 41. that these two women, with many others, were looking afar off. But it seems here, that they, with Christs mother, had drawn nearer then the rest; and that after his death, (which is the time wherein Mark observes that to have been) they retired to the rest, Doct. 1. This their standing by the Crosse of Jesus, was not to be any wayes assisting or helpful to him in that great work he was now about; nor yet did it flow only from natural affection, no, not in his mother, but from their faith seeing through his sufferings, and unto what they did tend: nor yet doth it only serve as a pattern of Christian practice, teaching us to stand beside his Crosse, and feed upon his sufferings and our interest in them; But further, it may teach, 1. Christs followers may have many sad dayes about Christ and his interests; both for their own trial, and that the thoughts of many hearts may be discovered; for, in this sight, Mary found that accomplished which Christ had foretold, Luke 2.35. and so the rest also, every particular of his suffering being a wound to their hearts. 2. Christians are bound not to forsake nor desert such as suffer for truth, but they should be comfortable to them by their sympathy and countenance, when they can do no more; for, albeit they could not joine with Christ in that great work, yet they look upon him as a suffering man, and their standing by the Crosse, and their tender looks upon him, were, in their own measure, sweet to him, who had cruel enemies round about him, and many a piercing and insolent look upon him in that day, Ps. 22.17. And their practice toward him is a pattern of our duty toward sufferers. See 2 Tim. 1.15, 16, 17. and 4.16, 17. Doct. 2. Albeit the generality, even of Professours, may turn their back upon sufferers, and they are to expect that as a part of their trial; yet they will not want some to countenance them, when God seeth it meet; for, here of all his followers a very few did stand by the Crosse of Jesus, and yet a few stood by it, his mother, and his mothers sister, (or kinswoman) who was Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene, with the disciple whom he loved. 3. Such as seem but weak in respect of others, may yet prove stronger then they in a trial; and these of the weaker sexe may be enabled to out-strip others; for, all these (except John) who stood by him when the rest are gone, are weak women. And albeit we are not to ascribe this courage to any thing in themselves, even of what they had received; yet it may be considered, that as all of these were eminently gracious, and as grace did excite his mother, and his mothers sister, to testifie their natural affection to him; so also in particular, John was much beloved of Christ, and Mary Magdalen had seven devils cast out of her by him: And it may be expected that such as enjoy the sense of Christs love, and do entertain the sense of his special kindnesse, will cleave to him as long as any. 4. Christ takes notice of all who sincerely testifie their affection toward him, and doth indeed respect them, though possibly they get not all alike expressions of his respect; for, here all are recorded who stood by the Crosse of Jesus, as a testimony that he took notice of their affection, though he speak to none but to his mother and John, and doth take particular care of her only, and because of this it is recorded that he saw them. 5. That Christ, in the midst of this his extream pain and agony, is at leisure to take notice of his mother and John, and to express his care of her; it may teach, partly, How wisely the Lord doth order the trials of his own, and that he will give them such intermissions of the extremity of exercise, as may be needful for them or their affaires; for, hereof hath he given proof in the suffering of his Son, who though he still continued in bodily pain, yet he got some intermissions and case of that overwhelming cloud of soul-trouble which pursued him because of our sins, so that he can think of something beside. Partly, it may teach, That Christ, even in his extream suffering, began his triumph over it in part, and testified himself a Conquerour; for, so much appears, not only in that he was alwayes free of any sinful perturbation which might confuse his thoughts; but in that his sinlesse perplexities also are at his command as God, to moderate them when his thoughts were otherwise to be employed. And partly, it may teach, That Christs heart is at all times upon his people, to perform all duties toward them to which he is bound, either as a man under the Law, or as Mediatour; for, in the extremity of his pain, his free thoughts are upon his mother, to care for her, and upon a beloved disciple, to give him a proofe of his love in this honourable emploiment. And if his thoughts were at this time thus employed, how much more are they so in glory, when he hath no exercise or suffering of his own to take him off? 6. By Christs care of his mother at this time, recommending her to John, as a mother to a son to be cared for, he would teach, 1. That it is the Will of Christ, that children honour their Parents, and have a care of them in their decayed and desolate condition; for, so much doth he teach in his own person, who was not only subject to his mother and his supposed father in his life, but hath a care of his mother at his death. See Mat. 15.4, 5, 6. 2. No personal trouble or trial upon our selves, doth exempt us from the performance of duties toward others, in our relations, nor warrant us to lay thoughts thereof aside; for, Christ in his extream suffering, accounts it his duty to provide for his mother at his death. 3. Christ is so tender, as he will not faile to have a care of them who are little minding their own condition and trials but are chiefly taken up with what concernes him, for, while his mother stands by his Crosse, afflicted and affected with his sufferings, he is finding out a way how she may be provided and cared for. 4. The Lord never removeth one comfort or mean of subsistence from his people, but he will provide some other to put in the room thereof, in so far as is for their good; for, now he is to be removed, who was not only her Redeemer, but comfortable to her as her Son; and albeit none could fill his room, even in that respect, yet he provides one who by taking her home, might supply her want in some measure as a Son to her, Behold, thy Son! Behold thy mother! Doct. 7. Christ calls her woman, and not mother, in this his care. Not because he would reprehend any fault in her, as chap. 2.4. nor yet only because he would not discover her to the souldiers, who were standing by to be his mother; but that he might teach, That it is the duty of all, especially in their suffering, to have the moderation of their affections toward their relations, mixed with the conscientious discharge of duty toward them; that so their affections may not blunt them in their great service, and yet they may not neglect any needful or possible duty, which might bring scandal and reproach upon what they suffer for, or their suffering for it, Therefore doth he call her woman, to testifie how far he was above these relations in his suffering, which testified his obedience to the Father, and his love to his people, and yet he neglects not to provide for her. 8. That John gets this trust put upon him, and he takes it on, it may teach, 1. Such as are beloved of Christ, and do dwell in the faith thereof, may expect that peculiar advantages shall be cast in their way daily by Christ; for, it is to the disciple whom he loved, that he saith, Behold thy mother, and puts him on this honourable service. 2. Such as do possesse and feed upon the love of Christ, will desire no greater benefit and advantage, then to be honoured to do service to any of his; for, this is Johns advantage, that Christ will say to him. Behold thy mother! and it so affects him, that from that houre that disciple took her unto his own home, or looked upon her, and took care of her, as his mother and one of his family.