The Mother that Trusted Him

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus 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!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home (John 19: 25-27).

The focus of the crowd was on Jesus, the criminal on the cross. The focus of Jesus was on His mother Mary, the woman “standing by the cross”. With so many natural distractions competing for His attention, Jesus directed His heart and mind toward His mother. The terrible pain from His beating, exhaustion from the journey to Calvary, and agony from His approaching death all took a back seat for a moment as He spoke to His mother. The pressure and stress from the relentless attack by unseen spiritual forces of darkness were briefly dismissed as Jesus reached out to His mother. The unimaginable oppression from the weight of the world’s sin was summarily forsaken as the Son ministered to His mother. In the final moments of the cross we learn that caring for people is so much more important than accomplishing great goals as Jesus responded to the precious faith of the mother that trusted Him.

The Teacher compels us to reflect on the condition of our faith today. The Spirit invites us to consider the faith of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to compare our own maturing faith with the tried and tested trust that is revealed as she watches her Son suffer and die on a criminal’s cross. How do we respond when someone we love is going through a difficult trial? What do we feel when things don’t go the way we planned? How do we react when promises are broken, people let us down, or God Himself does not do what we expect of Him? Mary’s faith was sparked by the wonderful promise of God delivered by an angel… “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Her faith was challenged by the warning of God delivered by an old prophet… “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed’” (Luke 2:34-35). And today we see her faith challenged at Calvary. But Jesus responded to her faith as He will to all who imitate her.

Mary’s faith was resolute. She did not flee the cross like most of the disciples. She remained faithful to the eternal promises of God despite the temporal difficulties of her circumstances… “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

Mary’s faith was restrained. When He was young, Mary challenged Jesus to do a miracle at a wedding and He scolded her. He taught her to trust God’s timing in all things… “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Mary was rewarded with revelation. With the words, “Woman, behold, your son” Jesus challenged Mary to see beyond the physical, temporal moment. He invited her to see by faith the King who disarmed principalities and died for sinners… “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Mary was rewarded with recognition. Jesus presented her to His most trusted and beloved disciple and commissioned John to care for her as his own mother. At the cross, Mary did not mention her need. By her presence she expressed her faith. Jesus responded to Mary’s precious faith by providing for her every need, now and forever. Jesus still meets our needs by responding to our faith… “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

As we grow up into Christ our confidence grows and our walk matures as we imitate the faith of…

The Mother that Trusted Him.