When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own [household].

The eyes of the Lord Jesus, through dirty sweat and crusted blood fell upon the figure of His distressed mother who was standing close to John, the disciple whom He loved.  He could see her suffering and He cared and He understood completely.

What was she thinking about?  Was she recalling the words of the angel Gabriel who told her that her body was to be the dwelling place of a child who was the Son of God?  Was she feeling less that blessed among women as she realized that she would not be spared the deliverance of her Son as Abraham had been?  She would have to endure the sacrificial death of the Son of promise, her Son… Jesus.

As He was dying, the Lord Jesus released His own mother, directing her to focus on another who was living.  He asked her to look upon John as her son for the rest of her life.  In so doing, He provided for her needs both emotionally and physically.

John already had a mother and her name was Salome.  She was, in fact, there with them during these moments and was the bold ambitious woman who had asked Jesus to reserve the places in His kingdom on His left and right for her own sons, James and John.  Some historians believe that she was Mary’s sister.  Jesus directed John to look upon Mary as his mother and he took her into his own household from that day on.  I believe that Salome’s personality was willing and able to share her son’s devotion with the mother of her Lord, and John’s heart of love was big enough to care for them both.

Have you been required to stand by helplessly as the one you loved suffered and then died?  Will you follow the tender leading of the Lord of life and turn your focus to another who will provide for you the emotional and physical atmosphere that will allow you to go on to the days of glory ahead.

Mary was the first disciple of Jesus.  She was in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit fell upon them at Pentecost.  She watched the frightened disciples become empowered ambassadors for the life-giving gospel of salvation.  It wasn’t over!  It’s not over!