What did Jesus mean, “Behold your mother”

John 19     ²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

This has nothing to do with Mary being our mother, but only that Jesus knew that He was leaving the earth soon, and wanted someone he trusted to look after His mother. In effect what He said was, John, please look after my mother as if she was your own. And to His mother He said, Mother, here is the man who will from now on treat you like his own mother. The last sentence makes it very clear that John understood the intention of Jesus’ words, and reacted to them by taking Mary to live with him in his own home.

Even on the cross, Jesus was more concerned for the welfare of others than for Himself. He also took time to help the thief on the cross, and to tell him that he would one day be with Him in heaven. And finally, He asked His Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him, as they did not have full understanding of the situation. What a man, and what a God!

I trust that this makes sense to you. God bless!