The Seven Sayings from the Cross: #5 — "Woman, behold thy son!"
Welcome back to our series, “The Seven Sayings from the Cross.” In our last study, we discussed Christ’s promise to the thief on the cross: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Now we’ll rewind a bit and see, amid Christ’s own pain, His care for others:
“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.”
— John 19:26–27
As Jesus hung on the cross, with nails in His hands and thorns upon His brow, He looked down and saw His mother standing among the few who remained.
Mary had once held Him as a child and now she watched Him die as her Saviour. In the midst of unfathomable agony, Jesus’ concern was not for Himself but for her.
His body was broken, yet His heart was still tender.
By addressing her as “Woman,” Jesus was not being cold or distant. In that culture, it was a term of respect and was actually the same title He used at the wedding in Cana (John 2:4).
It showed dignity, not detachment.
Even as He accomplished the redemption of the world, He fulfilled the personal duty of a son. He ensured that His mother would be cared for after His death, entrusting her to His beloved disciple John. John 19:27 says,
“From that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
This moment reveals that divine love does not overlook human need. Our Saviour was not so consumed with the salvation of the world that He forgot the sorrow of one woman. He noticed the tears of Mary while carrying the weight of mankind’s sin. That same compassion still flows today. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”
The cross shows that God’s love is both vast and personal. This saying of Jesus on the cross reminds us that true holiness never hardens the heart but softens it. The Lord has a tender heart and if He, in His suffering, could think of others, how much more should we in our comfort care for those who suffer?
Let us learn from His example: love is not measured by what we feel but by what we faithfully do. Even when the world presses in, compassion must remain at the center of the Christian heart.
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” — Luke 6:36