Finally, Brethren, Farewell — August 2025

There hung the crucified savior at the place of the skull. During his crucifixion a small band consisting of his mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, Mary Magdalene, and his beloved disciple John arrived at the scene of the cross. Jesus saw them standing near and cried out to his mother, “Woman, behold thy son!” And to his beloved disciple, “Behold thy mother!”

Profound words from the lips of the suffering savior. For he loved his mother and had a close bond with her. He had come from her flesh and blood. He had been taught and raised by her. He of all men had entered into the perfect love of a son for his family. And Mary loved him as her child.

She saw the suffering of her son on the cross. Standing helpless, she watched the mob taunt and mock him. Saw the nails piercing through his flesh. Observed the crown of thorns plaited on his head and the blood and sweat pouring from his body. Witnessed the cruelty of it all.

And in that moment Jesus committed his dearly beloved mother to the care of his disciple John. Jesus could not come down from that cross, even though he felt the temptation to give his mother one more hug and kiss and to console his dear mother who saw his suffering. Even his close, earthly bond with his mother could not stand in the way of his doing the will of his Father who had sent him. Jesus’ time was at hand. He was going about his Father’s business, and Jesus had to sever his earthly relationship with his mother. Thus he said, “woman,” not mother.

The earthly mother-son relationship had to be dissolved in order that the heavenly communion with God in Jesus Christ and the true communion among the saints could be ushered in. The earthly relationship had to give way for the heavenly, immortal life of heaven in glory. Jesus came as the elder brother of the family of God to take all his own into the covenant life of God. That life could only come by a perfect payment for sin and by the blood of atonement and reconciliation. That life had to have righteousness as its cornerstone.

Significant words and a marvelous act of the suffering mediator! Jesus had to forsake all for the sake of the gospel. He was like us in all things, sin excepted. He is a high priest who is touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Jesus lived the doctrine that he taught his whole ministry. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37–38). Jesus felt that. He lived that. He suffered that. He endured the pain of that loss. He had to for the salvation of thousands upon thousands of his brethren.

Jesus brought us into the covenant life of God as our elder brother. And when we must forsake family and friends for the gospel’s sake, we will not come down from that cross either. But we will suffer it as he suffered it, until at last we will enter into the heavenly perfection of the only fellowship that has ever mattered—covenant fellowship with God.