Taking Responsibility to the Very End – John 19:25-27
Reading the brutal story of Jesus’ death—the mock trial, the beatings He endured—I was struck by something that almost seemed out of place.
John 19:25-27
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, 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 home.”
Jesus, nailed to the cross, looks down and sees His mother and the Apostle John, the disciple He loved. In that moment, He hands over the responsibility of caring for His mother to John. This is amazing to me! With all He’s suffering—the pain, the shame, the weight of the world’s sin—why is He even thinking about this? It’s so outside Himself, so focused on others. Here’s Jesus, gasping for breath, yet making sure His mother isn’t left alone.
In Jewish culture, the oldest son typically cared for his widowed mother, a sacred duty to honour and provide. Jesus, as Mary’s firstborn, would’ve borne that role. But now, facing death, He doesn’t leave it undone. He entrusts Mary to John, creating a new family bond—not by blood, but by love and faith. It’s poignant: even in His final moments, Jesus redefines family, ensuring His mother’s care and giving John a new purpose. Historically, this fits—Mary, likely a widow by then, needed someone, and Jesus chose John to step into that son-like role.
This is another stunning example of Jesus’ selflessness, His relentless concern for those He loves. While dying for us, He’s still tying up loose ends for others. It makes me wonder: how often do I think of others when I’m in my own pain? How far does my love stretch when I’m at my limit? Jesus shows us responsibility isn’t just duty—it’s love carried to the very end.