5 Lessons about Family and Faith from Jesus Saying, 'Woman Behold Your Son'

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“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple 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.” (Luke 19:25-27)

This was the scene at Jesus’ crucifixion, and it is one of those moments that tells us that God always cares, always looks out for His children, and provides in ways we could never have imagined. At this moment, Jesus is barely hanging on to life. He uses a few of his last breaths to make sure that his disciple John knows that He wants John to care for his mother after His death. He also made sure that Mary knew she would be cared for.

When Does Jesus Say “Woman Behold Your Son” in the Bible?

Before the Roman soldiers crucified Jesus, he had been flogged to within an inch of his life, taunted, robbed, and spat upon. Once His hands and feet were nailed to the wooden beams, John’s gospel tells us that there are three things that He can say despite his exhaustion. He said, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), spoke to John and Mary, and finally, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

The other gospel writers include other things that Jesus said from the cross. Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 report that Jesus called out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” before He breathed His last.

Luke has a completely different set of sayings from the cross. Luke 23:34 reports that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke also records that he told a thief crucified next to Him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) before His final words: “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Perhaps John was the only one included in the conversation about Jesus’ mother, Mary, because he was involved in the story and was the only disciple at the crucifixion. The others had fled in fear, so they must have been told by others (maybe even by John and Mary themselves) what Jesus said about them.

What Did it Mean When Jesus Said “Woman Behold Your Son” to His Mother?

There are several implications to Jesus saying, “Woman behold your son.” In the Mosaic law given to the Jews after they were released from slavery in Egypt, Moses wrote, “You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me, and My anger shall blaze forth, and I will put you to the sword, and your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans” (Exodus 23:20-23). It would be considered ill-treatment to leave a widow without a son/family to care for her. So, Jesus’ last act on earth was to provide a familial connection between the two people He loved.

It was the oldest son’s responsibility to care for his mother, and then the next son would need to take her in if something happened to the oldest. But did Mary have other children who could care for her? We know their names thanks to a reference in the story about what happened when Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth. The townspeople were doubtful about Him and said, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us?” (Matthew 13:55-56)

At the point of his crucifixion, none of the half-brothers believed Jesus was the Messiah, which is likely why Jesus was concerned that Mary had a true son in the faith to take her into his home. John was “the one whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), which could be hyperbole until you consider that he was the only one brave enough to witness Jesus’ death. Since Salome, John’s mother, is at the crucifixion and is one of the women who brought spices to the tomb on Easter morning, it could be that the whole family took in Mary for a time, unless John was living on his own (which the Bible doesn’t tell us).

It’s somewhat ironic that when James became a believer after the resurrection and wrote the book of James (around AD 45-48), he would write, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).

Amanda Idleman suggests that “Woman, behold your son…” had other significant meanings:

• Despite enduring severe suffering, He ensures that His mother is cared for, demonstrating His tremendous compassion for many to hear.
• “Jesus symbolically establishes a familial bond between his followers, emphasizing the importance of community and care for one another within the body of believers.”

Was “Woman Behold Your Son” the Last Thing Jesus Said on the Cross?

Again, it depends upon which gospel writer you ask. It seems that John, the only disciple at the foot of the cross, witnessed this discourse. He may have heard Jesus say other things, but this was most important to him because it affected the course of the rest of his life (or Mary’s life).

We have clues elsewhere about what happened to these two after the Ascension of Jesus. Acts 1:14 describes all of the disciples staying together in Jerusalem. “They all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Britt Mooney writes in “Did Jesus Really Say 'Woman Behold Your Son' on the Cross” that John and Mary stayed together in Jerusalem—John played a leading role alongside Peter in launching the church there. Furthermore, tradition says that the two traveled to Ephesus, and she spent her last years there (although there is no mention of this in the Bible). The last mention of Jesus’ mother is in Acts 1:14.

What Does “Woman Behold Your Son” Teach Us Today?

There are many wonderful lessons from the fact that Jesus thought to provide for his mother and John in His last moments.

• Though he suffered terribly, he recognized their need. He knew that they needed one another, could serve together, and would together be witnesses to his death, resurrection, and ascension. It’s easy to focus on what we are going through when we suffer. But Jesus gave us an example of thinking of the needs of others even when it’s difficult.
• God is very aware of our needs. He is never too busy to listen to our prayers and provide as He sees best.
• Though “caring for widows and orphans” may sound like an old concept, it is still part of the body of Christ’s ministry. We need to get to know people in our congregations and communities who need our help. We can’t assume that someone has family members who can serve them, and we need to be especially mindful of elderly widows and young children who may need to be protected and discipled by the church.
• It is good for young men to be taught they have obligations and can make a great difference in the life of someone in need.
• Family isn’t always biological. Jesus was concerned Mary wouldn’t have a Christian son to care for her, so he wanted John to be with her. Even if our family doesn’t share our faith, we have a worldwide body of Christ that we can grow in.

The story is a beautiful example of how Jesus cares for His people and ensures that His mission is carried on until He returns. It’s simply following His commandment that we should “love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (John 13:34).

Photo Credit:©GettyImages/sedmak

Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).  

This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.

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