SUMMARY
As he hangs on the cross, JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More declares his mother and beloved discipleA disciple is a person who accepts and follows the pronouncements of a teacher. Jesus chose twelve disciples (also called "apostles" in some of the Gospels) to follow him and bear witness to his message Anyone who (like them) follows Jesus is engaged in Christian... More now to be part of the same family. Jesus thereby announces the creationCreation, in biblical terms, is the universe as we know or perceive it. Genesis says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the book of Revelation (which speaks of end times) the author declares that God created all things and... More of a new householdA household is a living unit comprised of all the persons who live in one house. A household would embrace all the members of a family, including servants and slaves. In the book of Acts, stories are told of various persons and their households, like... More because of believing in Jesus.
ANALYSIS
Jesus’ mother and his beloved disciple stand near the cross during the crucifixion, and Jesus entrusts them to each other, saying, “Woman, here is your son,” and, “Here is your mother.” By speaking these words Jesus creates a new community at the foot of the cross. His mother and beloved disciple form the nucleus of a household of faith that will continue after Jesus’ resurrection and that is made possible by relationship with Jesus and not kinship. Many more will join the community in time, but it is a community that traces its beginnings to the crucified Christ. In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ mother only appears twice – here and at the wedding at Cana – and she is never called Mary. It is her loving relationship with her son that brackets Jesus’ entire ministry. Her presence and love surround his earthly ministry.
