Virgin Mary's Caregiver. Learning from young John 19:25-27. Sunday Musings

Program Note: Today I experimented with new microphone for podcast. I hate it, so will throw it in trash. Sorry for echo-sound in voice. It wont happen again. "New" is not always better. 

Where were Jesus’ followers or Mary’s children? What is THE LAST act on Earth, by Jesus Christ? HOW did John's life change this day? What was its impact on Jesus' own family members? 

Luke 22:44. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

blood falling to ground. Praying most Earnestly — in agonia. Hematodrosis—extreme stress. Severe anxiety activates sympathetic nervous system to invoke fight-or-flight response to such degree to cause hemorrhage of vessels. Blood comes out sweat glands. 

John: puts Virgin Mary here, her sister (Jesus' aunt), wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene 

Mark 15:40 identifies women as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; … and many other women

Luke 22:49: And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Matthew 27:55- And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

CHALLENGE: Put together the above till you see who is the aunt of Jesus, and what this means to Jesus' charge to John...See also how curious wife of Cleopas is here with Jesus pre-crucifixion, while Cleopas is with Jesus post-resurrection at Emmaus.  

3 Maras (Marys) & Salome in pain and bitterness. 1-2 widows. All believers. All courageous. All horrified.  One his mom. The other his aunt. Third the husband Cleopas on Emmaus—Jesus’ uncle?  Mary Magdalene--most lied about woman in Bible.  

If this is Salome mother of James and Jude then Jesus is first cousin to John Baptist and these 2 disciples (see mark’s list of these 4 women). Third Mary is wife of cleopas and mother of James the less. Legend: Cleopas was brother of Joseph (Jesus’ dad)?  

All 3 women here were mothers of Jesus and his followers

Strange address. Not “mom,” but generic “you,” used 200 times in NT.  “Mother” used next means in place of mother. Like metaphor. Place woman to son. John. I am not your son now, WOMAN. John affection toward your new mom. Mother to son is between Mary to John.

Catholics claim that Jesus here is submitting John to Mary’s care, when in fact, the opposite is very clear. The reason is because Catholics want to say that even Peter was submissive to Mary. Clearly Jesus is telling this woman that she is now the adopted mother of John and that he is her adoptive son. But it is John who’s clearly taking care of Mary the aged widow.

By calling her woman, he is telling her that now our relationship is not son and mom, but Messiah and follower. Toward one another as humans between MARY and John, you are brothers and sisters, sons and mothers.

She has been his blessed mother, she will now be become his blessed follower, she has no special access or relationship with Jesus that the rest of us cannot also possess and enjoy.

His word accomplishes His work. 

John taking Mary unto himself means all that which is personal and private. All is connoted.  This is exactly the same expression in chapter 1 versus 11 when it says Jesus went into his own, but his own did not will receive him for welcome.

His last act on earth was taking care of his mother, and maybe extending John’s life & ministry also. John outlives all other disciples, the only one not martyred. This is key, when James his brotherw was first to be kill