April 8

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.—John 19:25—27.

It is generally supposed, that Joseph the husband of Mary, had been for some time deceased. And that Mary was mostly to be found in the company of her son, and was entirely dependant upon him. On the present occasion, we find her with other two Marys, and the beloved disciple, standing near the cross of Christ. What distress must have occupied every heart, what anguish especially, must have filled the breast of the afflicted mother of Jesus. Although Jesus was now enduring the intense agonies of a lingering dissolution, yet the little group of devoted friends, arrested his attention. His eyes beheld them—his heart felt for them. For his distressed mother he now provided a son, who should be her protector, her comforter, her friend. Hence he said unto her "Woman, behold thy son," let my beloved disciple be thine adopted child, consider him henceforth as thy son. In him thou shalt find a friend worthy of all thy esteem; his heart shall ever be thy sanctuary in trouble, and on his arm thou shalt lean with safety and delight. Thine own son now dies, but John shall abide to befriend thee, and care for thee, so long as thou shalt live. Then fixing his eyes on the beloved disciple, he said, "Behold thy mother." I commit her in charge to thine affectionate care; consider her as the honoured handmaid of the Lord; favored to give birth to the world's redeemer. Consider how that heart of her's is now pierced through and through, by the sufferings of thy master, by the agonies I now endure, and in which thy salvation is concerned. I commend her to thy filial attention. Let thine arm befriend her, let thy society cheer her, soothe as far as thou canst, her passage through the valley of tears, till she shall be called to behold her son exalted on the right hand of the majesty on high. You anticipate the result. The charge was accepted; the beloved disciple received her as his mother, and from that hour he took her to his own home. How is filial piety recommended by this astonishing scene. Jesus on whom a world's guilt was pressing, whose soul was engulfed in the waters of unutterable sorrows, did not forget his dependant mother, but in his dying words provides for her an asylum and a friend.