Woman, behold your son VI

In a good situation, a mother has no needs, wants, hopes, obligations, or anything at all that she might possibly claim a right to that does not become secondary to the nurturing of her child.

Of course the same was true for the mother of our Savior.

What an incredible privilege it was for Mary to be chosen to be this mother. No mother ever had such a child to put her life into.

Nonetheless, every instance that we read of in the Gospels where the Lord Jesus was interacting with His mother, we see Him distancing Himself from her. Three times He reproves her: “Did you not know…?”  “Woman what does this have to do with me?” “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

While on the cross He does not call her mother, He calls her woman.

Did Jesus not love His mother? Was she not unique and special in His life? Did He not like every son ever brought up by a good mother have certain obligations of affection for her?

We can only surmise what feelings our Lord had for His mother. But we know for certain that He was her kind and gracious Savior, just as He is the kind and gracious Savior of all who come to Him.

We also know that in the midst of His suffering on the cross, He was concerned to make provision for her, both materially and maternally for He said to her, “Woman, behold your son.” And to the disciple whom He loved, “Behold your mother.”