The third word Jesus utters on the cross is addressed to his mother and to his disciple John. He says "Woman, that's your son," and then to the student, "That's your mother.

Only one disciple went with him to the cross and that is John. Jesus sees His mother standing and His beloved disciple. He sees what tremendous sorrow His mother has. Mary sees her son dying slowly on the cross. Even in this last hour of His life, Jesus comforts her. He cares for her by giving her another son in his place. Jesus is going to die and then go to heaven. He no longer needs a mother. But Mary does need a son and support in her continued earthly life. She cannot find that with her other children because they do not yet believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Therefore, she now receives the disciple John as her spiritual son. The kingdom of God is not primarily about blood relations, but about faith community.

Next, Jesus speaks to John. He is instructed to take care of Mary as his mother. From then on, John took Mary into his home. This is the last will of the dying Jesus, That we as believers care for one another. The followers of Jesus together form a new family, the family of God.

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