In today’s post, we visit the moment Jesus was crucified on the cross, and Jesus gives the disciple whom He loves an amazing responsibility.
The Setting
Jesus was beaten and battered, bruised and deformed. The crowd has mocked Jesus, and the soldiers have beaten and ridiculed him, crowning him with a crown of thorns.
At the foot of the cross, Roman soldiers divided his clothing and cast lots for his tunic, the one garment they didn’t separate to divide. Yet, not one of these instances caught God off guard. We see this in verse 24.
John 19:24 ESV
24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture, which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,
This is a quote from Psalm 22:18
Psalm 22:18 ESV
18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
It is a powerful reminder that everything Jesus faces is not a surprise but part of God’s sovereign hand working everything out to redeem humanity.
At the cross, not only are there the soldiers, thieves, and an angry crowd, but we also have John focus on four women at the scene. The first is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Second, there is Mary’s sister. The third lady is Mary, the wife of Clopas, and the fourth named lady is Mary Magdalene. Their presence at the cross holds significance.
Of course, we would expect to see Jesus’ mother, Mary, at the cross. A mother’s love for her children is not just unique. It is a gift from God. In this case, Jesus’ mother followed Jesus and the promise given to her. Keep in mind she knows that Jesus was a gift from God, was conceived supernaturally, and witnessed how different Jesus’ life was from her children born from her and Joseph. She is a hurting mother at the foot of the cross. Imagine the pain she is experiencing. She is witnessing her beloved child stripped of his dignity, beaten, unrecognizable, and dying before her very eyes. The weight of that scene is unimaginable. Yet, it is her reality.
Then there is Mary’s sister. It would not be out of the question for her to be empathetic toward her sister and the excruciating pain she was experiencing. Also, it is safe to conclude that Mary’s sister would have likely been a follower of Jesus, which adds to her sorrow.
Then there is Mary, Clopas’s wife. We honestly know little of her. Yet her presence at the cross is significant; it is a testimony to her faithfulness.
As for the fourth woman, Mary Magdalene, she is only second to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in popularity. She is mentioned in all four gospels. Luke 8:2 tells us that she was healed from having SEVEN DEMONS.
Luke 8:2 ESV
2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
After her healing, we know she remained faithful to Jesus. Not only do we see her here at the cross, but we also see her as the first person to testify of Jesus’ resurrection!
John 20:18 ESV
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
We learn from the women’s presence at the cross that they had walked with Jesus, and Jesus had changed their lives!
In addition to the women, only one disciple is mentioned at the cross. John, the disciple whom Jesus loves, receives a great responsibility from Jesus at the cross, which I believe we all would do well to remember. It is simply:
“When we are faithful to follow Jesus, he gives us more responsibility .”
A Little Christian Imagination
When Jesus called John, he was a fisherman working in his family business. Peter and John share a lot in common regarding their background. None of the disciples, including John, would be your first pick if you were picking an all-star lineup of Bible nerds, preacher boys, or scholars. They were your average, everyday men. Yet, John was one of Jesus’ chosen ones. He was one of three in Jesus’ inner circle. John witnessed Jesus’ miracles, including his transfiguration. He saw Jesus calm the waves, heal the lepers, give the blind sight, and the lame the ability to walk. John was a faithful believer in the work of Jesus. Yet, disaster had struck.
Judas has betrayed Jesus. Jesus’ trials are a mockery. Peter denied knowing Jesus, and the other disciples scattered. Yet, here is John at the scene of the crime, the murder of the Son of God.
Think about the weight of what John was experiencing. The man he had followed, the man he had served with, who could do the impossible, who had walked on water, cast out demons, proof of that work right before his eyes in Mary Magdalene, hanging from a dead, carved tree called a cross.
The images of the loving man who changed the world faded as he hung, gasping for air. His face was mutilated, unrecognizable! Unbelief of what John’s gaze fixated on seeping into his mind. I imagine thoughts creeping into his mind like, “Could it be Jesus?” “Surely this is a dream, a nightmare.” “It can’t be real!” Yet, the smell of death knocking at the door filling his nostrils tells him it is real. Fatigue from the lack of sleep and the traveling through the night assured him further it was no dream but reality. His master, the Son of God, was hanging on the cross before him. The whaling of horror and sorrow filled the sky from the women he had walked with as they followed Jesus. His eyes and his mind were in agony, wondering what would be next. The man he loved and respected would soon die.
I’m sure anger filled his heart toward the crowd, soldiers, and thieves as they mocked and cursed the man he knew. Of course, Jesus tried to prepare him; he could recall all the times Jesus prepped him before this moment. But he wasn’t ready. His mind was overwhelmed with agony, sorrow, frustration, and hopelessness.
At this moment, as his mind raced, John heard Jesus’ voice. What Jesus says stuns his mind. Jesus says,
Luke 23:34 ESV
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
“Is Jesus forgiving them? How?” I’m sure it ran through his mind. Then, John would witness one of the thieves do what he had seen others do. The thief is trusting in Jesus, a faith born. And Jesus assures the thief in this moment of repentance that salvation is assured.
Luke 23:43 ESV
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Even in death, Jesus is still giving hope. A spark of awe, I’m sure, hope leaped in his heart. Deep down, I wonder if John was praying, “God, send your angels to save Jesus.” Yet, that was not God’s way. Jesus’ death must occur so that God, in his gracious mercy, could save the fallen, rebellious people.
Then, with an agonizing push and pull, Jesus takes a breath and speaks a third time.
John 19:26–27 ESV
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Talk about a dynamic moment. In all his agony, he is still taking on his family responsibilities to care for his mother, even though his focus is on the spiritual nature of the work he is doing. We are not sure when Joseph, Mary’s husband, died. However, it is clear from this passage that Jesus, as the oldest child, was responsible for caring for his mother. It was common practice that when the oldest son was unable to provide for his mother after the passing of his father, they were responsible for finding a caretaker for their mother.
In most cases, it would fall to the next brother. Only if no male family member could take on that responsibility would it be passed on to a friend outside the family. Yet, in this case, what is clear is that Jesus knew his time was coming. He could have given the responsibility to any of his brothers; yet, instead, he chose to give her care to a disciple and someone who followed him at that time. He was still considering spiritual matters over the earthly standards in this moment. This leads us to the first lesson:
Our priority ought to be on spiritual matters.
Jesus had an earthly responsibility to care for his mother. Yet, Jesus knew his priority was not caring for his mother but to die for the sins of the world.
Think about it. Jesus had to lay aside his human responsibility for the sake of dying for the sins of the world! Talk about radical love! We are called to live and imitate Christ.
A question we ought to ask ourselves regularly is, Do I have a love for faithfully pursuing and serving God to the point that when the world says don’t talk about God, we will do it anyway? What if it means getting in trouble at school? What if it means being mocked? What if we will lose our job? At what cost are we willing to pay to serve God faithfully? At what point do we say that God isn’t enough of a priority for us to follow?
Jesus recognized his purpose. Ultimately, he chose his spiritual mission to die for the sins of the world over his responsibilities as the caretaker of his mother. Thank the Lord that he did not waver! We have life because of Jesus’ faithfulness to be our payment for our sins.
When we set our priorities on God, everything else we do can fit around those priorities. This empowers our walk, and we can live out our lives faithfully for the Lord. Which brings us to our second point,
Our faithfulness determines our spiritual responsibilities.
John is the disciple whom Jesus loved. He followed Jesus and was present at his death. Jesus entrusts him with the responsibility of caring for Mary, Jesus’ mother. Think about how encouraging it was to John to know that Jesus thought so much of him that He gave him the honor of caring for Jesus’ mother. What an honor that was! Yet, there would have been great weight to that request as well.
Hearing those words would have confirmed Jesus’ death. Jesus is telling them. I am dying, and I will no longer be available to care for my mother. Also, there would be additional financial responsibilities. It would add an extra mouth to feed. Yet, John does not hesitate to take her in.
Yet, why John and not someone else?
It has to do with the fact that John was a follower of Jesus. The truth is, we are not sure of the exact moment Jesus’ brothers believed in Jesus and trusted in him for saving faith. But at least early in Jesus’ ministry, they were not on board. It could explain why Jesus did not entrust them with their mother’s caretaking. As for the other ten disciples, they fled. Peter denied knowing Jesus, and only John remained at the cross, which testified to John’s faithfulness to follow Jesus.
When we follow Jesus, and we are faithful, the Lord has a way of giving us opportunities to do more for his kingdom. It comes in all different forms. For some, they are given great wealth they must steward to accomplish kingdom work; for others, it is teaching the ability to share and teach God’s Word with others, yet, for others, it is the gift of serving and meeting needs with their hands and feet. Of course, there are others we could list, but for the sake of time we won’t. The question is, are we being faithful with the skills God has given us to give him glory and praise through our gifting?
Final Thoughts
If we want to be used by God, we must first walk with Him and be faithful with the little he has given us. Only then can God genuinely bless us with additional responsibilities. We can be faithful through the power of the Holy Spirit!
It reminds me of a line in Spider-Man: When Uncle Ben dies, he tells Peter. With great power comes great responsibility. When we are saved, we receive the incredible power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are now responsible for walking in faithfulness through the Holy Spirit’s enabling power.
Yet, all of this is mute if we do not have a relationship with Jesus. Have you ever come to the point in your life where you have placed your trust in the work of Jesus Christ? If not, what is stopping you? It is as simple as admitting you are a sinner and repenting of your sin, believing in the saving work of Jesus Christ, and confessing Jesus as Lord of your life. There is no more extraordinary decision you can make than to follow Jesus.
If you are a child of God, how’s your walk going? Are your priorities on Jesus and his work, or has the world become a distraction? What priorities must you shift to allow Jesus to be number one?
