The crucifixion of jesus

April 6: The Crucifixion of Jesus. John 19:25b-27

25b Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Crucifixion. In looking at the seven sorrows of Mary, we now move to the cross of Jesus itself.

What was it like to see you beloved Son, your great hope, nailed to a cross?

Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was from America’s most famous abolitionist family. Her father was Lyman Beecher, brother was Henry Ward Beecher, two of the most famous preachers of the 19th century. In her poem, “Mary at the Cross,” she imagines Mary’s feeling like this:

O wondrous mother! since the dawn of time
Was ever love, was ever grief, like thine?
O highly favored in thy joy's deep flow,
And favored, even in this, thy bitterest woe!

According to the Bible, Jesus hung on the cross for about six hours. A lot happened that we don’t know. We know that crowds of people came out to see him, drawn to the tragedy and ugliness. The ones who orchestrated his death came to taunt. Those jealous of his popularity came to gloat. Some of his followers came because they could not accept his coming death. And his mother, Mary, came because she could not stay away. What else would she do? Sometimes darkness has its hour and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

The Crucifixion, Abraham van Diepenbeek, c. 1660

Mary was not alone. She was part of a group of five. There was Mary, the mother of Jesus. There was Jesus’ aunt, Mary’s sister. There was another Mary, whose husband was named Clopas. And there was Mary Magdalene, the devoted disciple whom Jesus had delivered from seven demons. Finally, nearby these brave women was one, just one, of the twelve disciples. He is called “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the beloved disciple, John the Apostle.

In his horrible pain and weakness, Jesus sees this loyal band of five near his cross. In his agony, he is aware of their pain. He looks upon his dear mother, her pierced heart breaking, and gives her one last promise:

Woman, here is your son … Mother, consider this boy next to you as your son.

And he turns his gaze to the beloved disciple, the one who had traveled all over Palestine with him, who had shared the boat when Jesus calmed the sea, who had seen Jesus bring their friend Lazarus out of the tomb, who had shared a joyous meal with him a few hours before, and Jesus said to him:

Here is your mother … Dear trusted friend, consider this woman to be your mother.

And from then on, John took care of Mary as he would have taken care of his own mother.

But there are things here that are hard to understand. We can see why Jesus wanted to see to the care of his mother in the face of his own death. She was a widow, and he was the oldest son. It was his responsibility. But why would he entrust her to John? Jesus had four brothers, and it is likely that all four were in Jerusalem that day. Some of them may have even visited the cross. Why not his brother James? Why not his brother Joseph? Why not his brother Simon? Why not his brother Judas? Why not …?

Harriet Beecher Stowe captures the moment like this:

Crowds followed; thousands shouted, "Lo, our King!"
Fast beat thy heart. Now, now the hour draws nigh:
Behold the crown, the throne, the nations bend!
Ah, no! fond mother, no! behold Him die!

This is the fifth sorrow of Mary.

Journaling Questions

1.     Have you ever been present at the death of another person? How do you remember this? What sort of emotions and thoughts did you have?

2.     Have you ever “adopted” and older person and looked out for that person? What does that involve? Why would anyone do such a thing?