“Then He said to the disciple [John], ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:27 NKJV

The Bible says, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother…When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple [John], ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished…said…‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (vv. 25-30 NKJV). Jesus was about to speak some of His last words as He hung on the cross. He was about to perform His last act. What would He do? What would He say? He had the power to call legions of angels to His defense, but He didn’t. He could have explained the theology of His incarnation, His sinless life, and His vicarious death, but He didn’t. This is what He spoke: “Woman, look – your son. Son, look – your mother.” There is much discussion about how Mother’s Day began and where and who was responsible for it. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. And in America, more phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day in the year. But the scriptures indicate that Mother’s Day began with Jesus, who honoured His mother until His dying breath and who did all He could to care for her. And the Bible says, “He is your example, and you must follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NLT).

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024