Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 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 19:25-27)

The Crucifixion of our Lord is described in all four Gospels. It is a horrible method of torture and execution. The Roman government was fond of putting criminals to death in this manner. In Jerusalem, crucifixions took place outside the walls of the city in a place where those coming in to and out of it would have to pass. People would travel to see a crucifixion take place in order to jeer at those being punished for their crimes. Those who endured torture in this manner, often hung on the cross for days before they died. Certainly, those crucifying these prisoners were there to revel in that act. This was the picture surrounding the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The religious crowd had a great hatred for Jesus. They were enraged because Jesus simply said, “Believe on Me. Your works and the Law cannot save; you must believe God.” They went to great lengths to get Christ to the Cross. They denied Him. They blasphemed Him. They conspired to have Him crucified, thinking that it would be the end of Him. The crowd was in a frenzy as they yelled, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Release unto us Barabbas, and crucify Jesus in his place.” As Jesus went through that mockery of a trial, Pilate washed his hands and said, “I find no fault in Him.” The soldiers smote Him with their fists. They plucked out His beard. They whipped Him with the cat-o’-nine-tails. Christ endured the beatings, was nailed to the Cross, and displayed for all the world to see. Scripture tells us that He was not even recognizable as a man.

As we think of the horrible scene that day which Scripture unfolds for us, we must remember that Christ, the perfect Son of God, was at the Cross for a purpose: to pay the sin debt for all mankind. He never committed a sin even though He was robed in flesh. He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He gave up the Ghost. Man did not take Christ’s life from Him. He willingly gave His life for man. He satisfied the debt so that we could have eternal life. We should be overwhelmed by the thought of what it took for Him to take our sins upon Him that day.

I do not think any of us can imagine what it would have been like to be an eye witness to that brutal form of execution. Neither do I think any of us can understand the grief of being a follower of the One being crucified that day. The Apostle John was one of those who observed the Crucifixion of the Lord as he was standing near the Cross.

Verse 26 says, When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by,… Jesus took the time to recognize His mother and the disciple who stood with her. That disciple was John the beloved, John who leaned on Jesus’ breast, John the revelator to whom the Spirit revealed the things that were to come, John the disciple whom Jesus loved.

John 3:16 reminds us that Jesus loves every man who had ever lived and willingly died for every man on that day. He paid the sin debt for every man. It is obvious that Jesus loves the world. Jesus even loved those soldiers who crucified Him that day. Jesus loves us all, but our measure of love for Him is different depending on our service to Him. John was not a perfect man, but John was the man who was standing near the Cross when Jesus acknowledged His mother. The fact that the Scriptures mention John as the disciple whom Jesus loved indicates that there was a special relationship between them.

John had a relationship with the Lord unlike anyone else. The bond between Jesus and John was not common to every other disciple or to every other man, for that matter. Often, Jesus would leave the disciples and take only a few of them with him; John was always selected as part of that inner circle. It is clear that John, the beloved disciple, had a unique relationship with Jesus.

Of all the disciples, John was the one who was standing by Jesus’ mother. John put himself at great risk as a follower of Christ to be there with Mary that day witnessing Jesus’ Crucifixion. This was a most serious hour. This was the direst of circumstances in the lives of those men who followed Christ. John had forsaken all to follow Him; and now the One Whom he loved, the One to Whom he had listened, the One for Whom he had great affection was being crucified. Scripture tells us Jesus was not recognizable as a man. The sight of the Messiah in that state must have been very difficult for John, yet when Jesus addressed His mother, there was the disciple whom He loved standing by Mary.

Jesus fulfilled His earthly responsibility as a Son when He spoke to His mother and acknowledged that He had passed the responsibility of her care on to the Apostle John. From the Cross, He spoke to John, … Behold thy mother!… Mary was a widow by this time and had nobody to care for her. Although Jesus was the Son of God, Mary was the human instrument by which God brought Jesus into this world. Jesus did not outgrow the responsibility of caring for His mother. He told her that John would be caring for her now. John always seemed to position himself close to Jesus. Scripture tells us there were times he leaned on the Lord. John loved Jesus and had forsaken everything for Him.

As we study the life of John, there are some truths we can learn from him that we can incorporate into our lives.

John made himself available.

In verse 26, Jesus had not yet given John the responsibility of caring for Mary, but by virtue of the fact that John was standing by the mother of Jesus meant he was available for that responsibility to be given to him. Many Christians could do more for the Lord if they just made themselves available. Sometimes we wonder why the Lord did not pick us for a specific task, but were we standing by, making ourselves available for His use?

The disciples were not above the typical feelings that Christians have. They were flesh and blood like we are. Perhaps one of the others may have wondered why the Lord had not chosen him to care for Mary, but John was the one who had been standing nearby. Oftentimes, we ask God why He has not given us the responsibility or the privilege to serve Him in one area or another; but in our difficult circumstances and hostile environment, are we standing by as John did?

John was a servant. We know this because he stood close by and waited for the Lord to tell him what to do. That is what a servant does. He stands ready to receive instruction and to do what is needed at that time. Many children of God today talk about how much they love God and want to serve Him, but they do very little with their lives to show that they love Him. Jesus taught His disciples to show Him with their lives how much they loved Him by doing as He commanded.

Jesus had not yet passed the responsibility of His mother’s care onto anybody, yet John already had positioned himself by her side. We do not know how John and the ladies got there that day. Perhaps Mary asked John to take her there. Perhaps John offered to bring Mary there. In many ways, John had taken on the responsibility of caring for her already. How much are we making ourselves available for God to give us an opportunity or a responsibility? John did not wait for Jesus to give him that responsibility. He recognized a need and cared for it without being asked.

What we need in our world today are some Christians who are just standing by, available if the Lord needs them. Because John was there, it was easy for the Lord to pass the care of His mother on to him. Perhaps Jesus’ saying, “Behold thy mother!” was just a formality because, in John’s mind, he had taken on that responsibility already. In his mind, he had determined already that he would not let Mary live the rest of her life wondering who would care for her. It would be wonderful if God did not need to track us down to get us to serve Him and if we just found a place to stand in order to be available or just took an opportunity to make a difference.

Have we made ourselves available to God? Every generation needs to be reared to serve the Lord. It is no coincidence that the more we make ourselves available, the more the Lord will be able to use us. The Lord will give us an opportunity and will entrust us with responsibility if we are standing by to serve. To make a difference, we must make ourselves available.

To make a difference, we need to be standing near the Lord. The Lord fastened His eyes on Mary, His mother. He could not help but see John the Beloved there beside her. Jesus had the satisfaction of knowing that John was standing by making himself available. When God looks at us, does He see us as being available? God will use those who make themselves available to serve just as He did with John.

John was concerned for others.

John the Beloved had a tender heart, which was made obvious by his actions. John, no doubt, was grieving and frightened. He did not understand everything that was happening on the day Jesus was crucified. We cannot imagine what it was like for John to have seen Jesus hanging on that Cross unrecognizable as a man. He must have hurt deeply as a result of witnessing this event. Some of Christ’s followers were not there because they were afraid or because they could not bear to look at Jesus in that condition, but John was there. It was obvious he had concern for others. Despite his broken heart, despite his fear, despite the danger he faced as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, John pushed all of these things aside because he knew Mary was experiencing the same. He knew Mary needed to get to Jesus. She needed to see her Son. John pushed aside his own feelings in order to be concerned for someone else. He wanted to be a source of strength for Mary.

Too many Christians are not standing by because they are too concerned about their own problems and their own burdens. John knew how he was feeling but was wise enough that day to consider Mary’s condition. He wanted Jesus to know that he was right there by Mary’s side. Christians need to put aside their own broken hearts and heavy burdens to realize that someone else is carrying a heavier burden or going through a greater battle. If we will put our hurts aside and focus on someone else’s, we can be used of the Lord.

Jesus gave the responsibility of caring for Mary to John, at least in part, because He knew John cared about others. Maybe God does not give us greater responsibility because He knows our hearts. Maybe we care more about ourselves than anybody else. Why would the Lord entrust us with the responsibility of ministering to others when we do not care for others? John was more concerned about Mary’s needs than he was for his own safety. John did not allow the tears flowing down his face to keep him from recognizing that Mary had tears flowing down her face as well.

How much do we really care for others? Are we too consumed with our own trials to notice anyone else’s? When we compare our difficulties with the difficulties the disciples faced, it ought to challenge us, convict us, and motivate us to do more. In the time of crisis, there is always an opportunity of service. John cared enough for others to put their needs before his own.

John could be trusted.

The Lord was fulfilling His last responsibility as a Son by entrusting the care of His mother to another. This was a big responsibility. He would pass that responsibility only onto somebody whom He could trust. John had proven his character. John had placed himself at risk by being there that day. No doubt, many there that day knew who Mary was. By his association with Mary, it was evident that John was a follower of Christ even if his precise identity was unknown. When Peter was watching from afar, the damsel recognized his speech and quickly associated him with Jesus. Certainly, this would also be true of John. By being with Mary, he would quickly be identified with Jesus as He was crucified.

It is also noteworthy that the responsibility given to John was not glamorous. Too many times, Christians are looking for a glamorous responsibility, when God just wants somebody willing to take any responsibility. He wants to use those who are just standing by. John was, no doubt, trying to be some sort of strength for Mary. Perhaps he was also attempting to let the Lord know that he was there, willing to take on any responsibility. It was not a task that others were lining up to do that day. As we look back, we know it was a great honor that was bestowed on John, but it still was not a glamorous responsibility.

Can Jesus trust us with a difficult task? Can Jesus trust us with a difficult responsibility? Can Jesus trust us with the care of another life? Can Jesus trust us with a ministry that affects eternity? Can Jesus trust us to be faithful in spite of difficulty? If we were there that day, could Jesus trust us with the care of His mother? We say He can trust us with anything, but what is our track record? Would we have shown up at the foot of the Cross? Will we show up when it is not popular? Will we show up when it is not easy? Will we show up when it is not pleasant? John already had to care for his own mother, and now he needed to care for the Lord’s mother.

Even that which others view as mundane is important to God. Jesus was on the Cross bearing the sins of every man who had ever lived or would ever live, but He was still aware of those around Him. God’s wrath had to be poured out on sin, and Jesus bore the burden of that sin. Despite His tremendous agony, Jesus being God and Man, fulfilled His responsibility as a Son.

In the moment, the magnitude of God’s redemption of man, the seemingly unimportant task of caring for His mother was truly important to the Son of God. Everything we do for God is important, but not everything we do for God is glamorous. We do not always get a pat on the back or get acknowledged for everything we do for God; but if God has given us a task of spiritual responsibility for another individual, it is important. Many will go their whole lives unused by God in a meaningful way because they are waiting for what they consider to be an important task from God to present itself to them. They fail to realize there are all kinds of mundane things that God is looking for someone to do.

God needs somebody to pray, to give, to go, to be in the ministry of encouragement, to take the task of teaching a few children and realize these responsibilities are a matter of life and death. God needs somebody to understand that every little task is important to Him.

John could be trusted. Can we be trusted with our post as an usher, with our work in the nursery, with teaching a Sunday school class, with singing in the choir, with rearing our children, and with managing our homes? Can we be trusted with the everyday, ordinary, mundane tasks?

John took this responsibility personally.

Verses 26- 27 say, 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. From that hour of the Crucifixion, John took Mary into his care. He did not leave the responsibility to anyone else. He did not assume someone else would take care of her. From that moment on, John took Mary as his own mother. John took this responsibility personally. John never fretted or bemoaned the cost of caring for Mary. John knew Jesus trusted him with that responsibility. Starting at that very hour, she would live in John’s house; and he would care of her as if she were his own mother. He took ownership of the responsibility that had been placed on him.
Do we take ownership of the responsibility God has given us? If God wants us to serve in a particular area, would we take it personally? We should take ownership of it. It is what the Lord has for us to do. John took Mary to his own home and did not pass that responsibility onto anybody else or shirk that responsibility altogether. We do not know how long Mary lived, but Mary was in the upper room as documented in the book of Acts and was still an active participant throughout the early days of the New Testament church.

John was different from the average Christian. What would cause a man to risk his own life to stand next to the mother of his Lord? What would cause a man to put his dreams and ministry on hold as he cared for the mother of Jesus? What would cause a man to incur this expense? What would cause a man to put himself at risk and push aside his own hurt to be a help and an encouragement for someone else? The answer is clear. His love for Jesus. This love was not like his love for anyone else. His love for Jesus was a real, deep, and abiding love. Christians are not standing by for God to use them because they do not love Jesus like John loved Jesus. John had forsaken everything already. If John was willing to give his life for Jesus, he certainly would accept this responsibility that Christ had placed on him.

Sadly, Christians today need to be begged to go to the house of God, begged to give to God, and begged to serve God in any capacity because they just do not love Jesus like John loved Jesus. Just because a person wears a WWJD bracelet does not mean he loves Jesus. Standing near the Cross while Christ was being crucified saying, “Here I am, Lord. I’ll take that responsibility,” was just a formality because John had taken that responsibility already. The Lord will give us something to do for Him if we love Him enough to make ourselves available. Jesus did not need to beg John to be there. We do not serve not because there is no opportunity or because it does not fit our skill set but because we are not standing by. We are not standing by because we do not love Him like we should. Have we made ourselves available? Are we concerned for others? Can we be trusted with the task? Will we be personally responsible?

John’s close relationship with the Lord is occasionally overlooked. However, God went on to use John to pen the books of I John, II John, III John, and Revelation. The book of Revelation tells us of the things to come. John saw things nobody else saw. Perhaps there is a correlation between John’s readiness to serve and close relationship with Christ and the fact that the Lord would reveal the things to come to him personally. Revelation tells us of Jesus as the King, Jesus as the Ruler Who reigns over all things. The Lord revealed things to John on the Isle of Patmos that no man had seen or would see until the end times. 

John was caught up in the Spirit as he wrote those things. John got to see Jesus on this side of eternity as nobody else got to see Him. John loved the Lord so deeply that he made himself available. His zeal and devotion allowed him to be used as an apostle; but it also may have been an indicator to God that He could trust John to record in His written Word that which was to come.

Just like John, we should be standing by waiting on God. 

God will use us in a great way if we are available. We will not be applauded for every responsibility we fulfill. Some of the tasks we do will be known only to the Lord. If we have no responsibility, it is because we have not made ourselves available. A world needs to be reached. A city needs to be influenced. Families need to be helped, and souls need to be saved. There are those who need someone to care about them and love them.

We must never forget what Christ did for us. Certainly, we are thankful for the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through our faith, that blood covers our sin. We must never forget the sacrifice He made when He paid our sin debt so we would not be required to pay for our own sins. It should compel us to be available for His service.

God chooses some individuals because others are not there. Like John the Beloved, we should be standing by even if it means pushing our own burdens, fears, and sorrows aside. When someone else is brokenhearted, what we feel is not so important because we have taken the time to realize that everybody we encounter is very important to the Saviour. If we would focus less on our burdens and more on the burdens of others, God would meet our needs as well.

As we look at the Cross and what Jesus did that day, there are great lessons to be learned from those who were standing near the Cross.