The implications of "Behold your mother"
A while back I had an early interview and on the train the MacArthur bible commentary app was playing up so I looked at the Matthew Henry commentary on John 19, a section I had just read.
When Christ says "Behold your mother" we just read it as is but Henry reflects: " It is a great honour to be employed for Christ, and to be entrusted with any of his interest in the world. But, It would be a care and some charge to John; but he cheerfully accepted it, and took her to his own home, not objecting the trouble nor expense, nor his obligations to his own family, nor the ill-will he might contract by it. Note, Those that truly love Christ, and are beloved of him, will be glad of an opportunity to do any service to him or his. Nicephoras's Eccl. Hist. lib. 2 cap. 3, saith that the virgin Mary lived with John at Jerusalem eleven years, and then died. Others, that she lived to remove with him to Ephesus."
If you're like me you probably didn't think of the sacrificial nature of John caring for Christ's earthly mother (probably until she died), you just read over it. It certainly appears here that Christ isn't big on "self love" or "you come first!". May we learn to be like John with difficulties Christ entrusts us too.
Another reason why Bible commentaries are so useful, they help us reflect more on the passage.
When Christ says "Behold your mother" we just read it as is but Henry reflects: " It is a great honour to be employed for Christ, and to be entrusted with any of his interest in the world. But, It would be a care and some charge to John; but he cheerfully accepted it, and took her to his own home, not objecting the trouble nor expense, nor his obligations to his own family, nor the ill-will he might contract by it. Note, Those that truly love Christ, and are beloved of him, will be glad of an opportunity to do any service to him or his. Nicephoras's Eccl. Hist. lib. 2 cap. 3, saith that the virgin Mary lived with John at Jerusalem eleven years, and then died. Others, that she lived to remove with him to Ephesus."
If you're like me you probably didn't think of the sacrificial nature of John caring for Christ's earthly mother (probably until she died), you just read over it. It certainly appears here that Christ isn't big on "self love" or "you come first!". May we learn to be like John with difficulties Christ entrusts us too.
Another reason why Bible commentaries are so useful, they help us reflect more on the passage.
