Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Behold Thy Son!

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

Mary is finally asleep. It was so difficult ..to watch her tonight. Her pain and ..her agony were so intense as she watched her son on the cross. She was quite distraught and upset. The truth be told, we both are. We were crying and holding each other not long ago. I am glad she can finally sleep a little. But, sleep still eludes me.

Jesus is dead. As I say these words, I can hardly believe it. And, not just dead, but killed! Crucified! I saw it with my own eyes so I know it is true. Its feels like my heart has been torn in half. I’m trying to look to Jehovah to sort all this out but I fear my grief won’t allow me to remember what Jesus told us.

I remember when I first decided to follow Jesus three and one-half years ago. I was fishing with my brother James and also with Simon Peter and Andrew. Jesus got into one of our boats and began teaching the multitude that had followed him. When he had finished, Jesus told Simon to let the nets down for a catch. I thought it was odd that Simon said he would! We had fished all night and we had come back to shore with nothing. But, lo and behold, immediately, the nets were full to the point of breaking! We were amazed and realized that we were in the presence of an extraordinary man. So we left our fishing business to other family members and followed him. Jesus said to us, "From now on you will be catching men" (Luke 5:1-11).

Those three years with him were filled with miracles and the joy we had listening to the words he preached to us and to multitudes of people. He spoke of the coming kingdom. He healed the sick, the lame, and the blind! His words brought the old prophecies alive and we would spend hours asking questions and listening to his answers. As we shared this wonderful news in the different areas that we traveled to, the people listened to us gladly but the leaders seemed troubled by Jesus’ words and actions.

It is hard to believe that it was only ten days ago prior to this awful night that Jesus had been heralded as a king when we entered Jerusalem. We were told by Jesus to get a young donkey so he could ride it into Jerusalem. As he entered riding on this donkey, the multitudes took palm branches to lay in the road before him and they proclaimed from a psalm of David, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 118:26). All in the city were asking, "Who is this?" He went to the temple and cast out the moneychangers. Then he healed the blind and the lame. (Matthew 21:12-14) We had never seen him so aggressive in showing forth his power. I felt like nothing could stop Jesus—not even the chief priests and scribes who had such disdain for him.

How could this man who had been welcomed as a king now be crucified as a common criminal? How could our own Jewish leaders not see the good in Jesus and the good that he was doing for the people?

In the days to follow Jesus met with the Pharisees and the Sadducees several times. They often tried to trap him by asking him questions. Jesus called them hypocrites and pointedly showed them how they were looking at only the letter of the Law and not at the spirit of the Law. He summarized all the commandments by saying, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39). This never moved them. They only thought Jesus was a threat to their positions.

He lamented over Jerusalem and their willingness to kill the prophets and he used a prophecy from Jeremiah when he said, "Your house is being left to you desolate" (Matthew 23:38; Jeremiah 22:5).

One day as we were sitting with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, we asked him for signs of his coming and for signs of the end of this age. He told us of the many events that must take place and he shared many parables with us. He also warned us by saying that "the Son of Man is tobe delivered up for crucifixion" (Matthew 26:2). Later that night, when we were in Bethany, Mary anointed him with an expensive perfume. Jesus said, "For when she poured this perfume upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial" (Matthew 26:12). I think I still detected some of this perfume on him as he walked with his cross earlier today.

I still try to understand and comprehend that Jesus is dead. Jesus told us that we must love our enemies! Why should I do this? How can I do this when they have just crucified my dearest and most beloved friend and my master?

Then there is Judas. He betrayed Jesus. He betrayed all of us! For over three years, Judas walked with Jesus. We shared everything and I thought I knew him. Jesus even trusted him with the money. There is a psalm which says, "Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). It is hard enough to understand strangers wanting to kill Jesus, but to have a friend do this is incomprehensible to me.

Wait! At supper in the upper room when Jesus seemed troubled he told us, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray me" (John 13:21). We all looked at one another and I even asked who it might be. Jesus dipped a morsel, gave it to Judas, and said, "What you do, do quickly." I thought Jesus had sent Judas on an errand of some kind since he was in charge of the money. (John 13:22-30) Could I have stopped Judas from betraying our Lord? Oh, dear Jehovah, was I responsible for not stopping the coming events? Please forgive me. I was selfish. I just wanted to stay near Jesus. I must have faith that Jesus knew all and that you, heavenly Father, allowed this. But, I still ask your forgiveness if I in any way failed you or my dear friend.

Jesus began talking about going away after Judas left the upper room. As the rest of us walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, he told us how we would be recognized as his disciples by the love that we have for one another. He told us not to be troubled. He said that we could not follow him now but that we would follow him later. He promised us peace. And he told us of the great love that the heavenly Father has for us. He called us friends and one phrase in particular stands out now, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12,13).

What have we done to deserve such love? What have I done? Now he has gone away, taken from us in a most cruel and inhumane way. He said that he chose us. Why? Perhaps the question should be, What will I do now? How can I best show forth his love to all and how can I share his message of the coming kingdom?

He said that he would send a helper, a comforter to us. There has never been any word which Jesus has spoken that has not been fulfilled. I must have faith in this even though my heart is filled with sorrow.

I must learn to put aside the cruel things that I have seen this night. Jesus was beaten and humiliated by the very men I must learn to love. He was charged unjustly for a crime he did not commit. He was nailed to the cross and left to suffer and cry for hours and hours. And yet, I know that Jesus forgave them. I must learn this also. When Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished," it was a cry that will ring out in my mind for a long, long time. It was almost a relief to me to see his suffering end. I think Mary felt this also. To see this perfect man completely worn out physically and emotionally was something I wouldn’t have believed possible even two weeks ago.

I remember something Jesus said early in his ministry: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). Did this possibly mean Jesus? Is he this temple? I must go and meet with the other disciples to pray and search for the meaning in these things.

Mary is stirring now. I will take care of Mary as if she were my own mother. To lose a friend is difficult but to lose a son must be the hardest of all.

Help us all to look to you, Jehovah, to show us the way to best serve you and to best continue to spread the good news that Jesus brought us. Most of all help us to learn to have this same love that Jesus showed to everyone. He gave his all. Help us do the same.