There stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” John 19:25–27 NKJV
Many were mocking the crucified Jesus who had only done good things to them during His life. In contrast to these, a small group of devoted believers was standing close by His cross. About 33 years earlier, the mother of Jesus—together with Joseph—had presented her baby Jesus to God in the temple. At that occasion, Simeon had said that a sword would pierce through Mary’s soul (Lk. 2:35). While standing there by the cross, she must have realized that this prophecy was being fulfilled before her very eyes.
The other Mary—the sister-in-law of Jesus’ mother—was standing there together with Mary of Magdala, whom the Lord had freed from seven demons (Lk. 8:2). They were marked by great devotion to Him—and because of her devotedness, Mary Magdalene would be the very first human being to whom the risen Lord would appear (Jn. 20:11–18). All the disciples had fled, except for the disciple whom Jesus loved, who was standing with these faithful women.
In this scene of the Lord’s deep humiliation, as He was hanging there without any clothes—for these had been divided among the soldiers—the Lord looked at His mother and also at His disciple. His half-brothers had not accepted Him during His public ministry, and now Mary’s oldest Son, Jesus, was departing. Caring for her, He committed His mother to the care of His faithful disciple: “Woman, behold your son!” and said to John, “Behold your mother!” These simple words form the third of the seven sayings Christ spoke while on the cross.