Terms of endearment
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:26-27 (NIV)
What do you call your mother? Mammie, like the Irish; mom, as the Americans do; or mummy, as in England? Maybe none of these terms. You certainly wouldn’t call her ‘woman’ unless, of course, you liked to live dangerously. So why did Jesus refer to his mother as ‘woman’?
Despite what we may think, this was not a disrespectful title. In fact, in the Greek language ‘woman’ was a ‘highly respectful and affectionate mode of address.’1 Jesus had called her this earlier, in John 2:4, and in the Amplified Bible it is perhaps better translated as “Dear woman…”.
Although he was in horrendous agony and near to death, Jesus’ focus was not on himself, but on others. In this case it was his beloved mother.
Typically, a dying son would commit his mother into the care of another member of his immediate family. In the case of Jesus, that would have been James, Jude, or another male sibling. Instead, he commits her care into the hands of his beloved disciple, John. John was the only supportive male present and Jesus knew he could entrust him to not only look after his mother’s physical needs but to meet her spiritual needs as well.
Even in death, Jesus was focused on spiritual matters. At the heart of his mission and ministry believers are invited to become members of a new family, the family of God, which was born at the foot of the cross. Jesus came to reveal the heart of God and God’s care is always for his children.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we know you are faithful, and no matter what life circumstances face us, you are with us and for us. We can count on you. Help us to be there for others and to be more like Christ, who focused on others more than himself. In Jesus name, Amen.
Study by Jackie Mill
1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887, entry for Jn.2:4).
Jackie Mill is a Minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Co-Pastor for Scotland and Ireland.
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh
Please email local congregational contact (below) for details of Edinburgh zoom service
Meeting time:
Saturday 11:00am
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church