FOR THE WEEK MARCH 9-13, 2026
“WOMAN,
BEHOLD, YOUR SON! BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER”
John 19:25-27
SERMON BY Rev. Lara “Willis” Greene
“WOMAN, BEHOLD, YOUR SON! BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER” SERMON REFLECTION
In his third statement from the cross, Jesus addressed his mother Mary and the beloved disciple John with profound words that created both practical provision and spiritual family. Seeing his mother’s need for care in a culture where widows were vulnerable, Jesus entrusted her to John’s protection, fulfilling the commandment to honor his parents even in his final moments. John immediately took Mary into his home, demonstrating the immediate power of Christ’s words to create family bonds.
However, this exchange represents something far deeper than practical arrangements. Jesus was establishing a new kind of family structure that would define the church for centuries to come. Earlier in his ministry, he had redefined family as those who do God’s will, and now from the cross, he was putting this principle into action. By bringing together Mary and John - two people connected only through
their love for him - Jesus demonstrated how faith in Christ creates bonds stronger than blood relations.
This moment speaks directly to the modern church, where believers from vastly different backgrounds, personalities, and circumstances come together as family. Through baptism, we enter into relationships that transcend personal compatibility or natural affinity. The church becomes a community of unlikely people who have every reason not to be together, yet are united by their shared love for Jesus Christ. This divine family structure challenges us to care for one another practically and spiritually, seeing fellow believers not as mere acquaintances but as true brothers and sisters who deserve our love, support, and commitment.
A NEW KIND OF FAMILY
From the cross, Jesus looked down at two of the most important people in his life - his mother Mary and his beloved disciple John. In that moment of unimaginable pain, he spoke words that would forever change how we understand family: “Woman, here is your son” and “Here is your mother.” This wasn’t just about practical care for his mother; it was the birth of something revolutionary.
Jesus was creating a new kind of family - one not bound by blood, but by love for him. Mary and John had little in common except their devotion to Christ, yet in that moment, they became
mother and son. This divine act shows us that our deepest connections aren’t always with those who share our DNA, but with those who share our faith.
In our world today, many feel isolated despite being surrounded by people. We long for authentic relationships and genuine community. Jesus offers us exactly that through his church - a family where belonging isn’t earned through birth or achievement, but received through grace.
2 Corinthians 5:15
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
How might your perspective on church relationships change if you truly saw fellow believers as family members rather than just friends or acquaintances?
“Through God’s love, we are brought into a common family, not defined by names, backgrounds or where we come from, but by the grace of Jesus Christ here in this place.”
Jesus, thank you for creating a family that transcends blood relations. Help me to see my fellow believers as true brothers and sisters in faith.
WATER THICKER THAN BLOOD
There’s an old saying that “blood is thicker than water,” meaning family bonds are stronger than other relationships. But in God’s kingdom, this gets turned upside down. The water of baptism creates bonds that can be even stronger than blood relations.
When John took Mary into his home that very day, he wasn’t just being kind to his teacher’s motherhe was embracing a new sister. Their relationship wasn’t based on shared genetics or childhood memories, but on their mutual love for Jesus. This immediate response shows us the power of Christ to create instant, lasting family bonds.
Many of us have experienced the disappointment of broken family relationships or the pain of feeling like outsiders in our own homes. Others have been blessed with wonderful biological families but still hunger for deeper spiritual connection. The beautiful truth is that in Christ’s family, we find both - relationships that offer the security of family with the choice of friendship.
In this divine family, we’re not stuck with dysfunction or limited by past hurts. We can experience healing, forgiveness, and the joy of being truly known and loved.
John 19:25-27
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”
What would it look like for you to embrace someone in your church family with the same commitment and care you’d show a biological family member?
“Because in this family, water is thicker than blood.”
Lord, help me to value the family bonds you’ve created through faith. Give me a heart that sees beyond surface differences to embrace my spiritual family fully.
UNLIKELY TOGETHER
Look around your church on any Sunday morning, and you’ll see something miraculous - people who have every reason not to be together, gathered as family. Different ages, backgrounds, personalities, and life experiences, all united by one thing: their love for Jesus Christ.
This is exactly what Jesus created at the cross when he brought Mary and John together. A grieving mother and a young disciple, connected only through their shared devotion to him. Their differences could have kept them apart, but Christ made them family.
The beauty of God’s family is that it’s not built
on compatibility or convenience. We don’t get to choose our spiritual siblings based on whether we enjoy their company or share their interests. Instead, Christ chooses for us, bringing together the most unlikely combinations of people and calling them family.
This can be challenging. It’s easier to build relationships with people who think like us, vote like us, or share our hobbies. But there’s something powerful about learning to love someone simply because Jesus loves them. It stretches our hearts, challenges our assumptions, and shows the world something they can’t find anywhere else - a community where love transcends all barriers.
2 Corinthians 5:15
“And
he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Who in your church family challenges you the most, and how might God be using that relationship to grow your capacity for love?
“Church at its best is a community of people who have every reason not to be together.”
Father, thank you for placing me in a family I didn’t choose but desperately need. Help me to love those who are different from me with the same love you’ve shown me.
Jesus, help me recognize that paradise isn’t a distant promise but a present reality with you. Open my eyes to your presence in my everyday moments. Amen.
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CALLED TO CARE
Jesus’ words from the cross weren’t just beautiful sentiment - they were a call to action. When he told John, “Here is your mother,” he was giving him a responsibility. John didn’t just nod politely; he immediately took Mary into his home and cared for her as his own mother.
This is what family does. We don’t just gather on Sundays and exchange pleasantries. We step into each other’s lives with practical love and genuine care. We notice when someone is struggling, celebrate when they succeed, and show up when they need us most.
In our individualistic culture, it’s easy to think that
John 19:25-27
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”
everyone should handle their own problems. But God’s design for his family is different. We’re called to bear one another’s burdens, to weep with those who weep, and to rejoice with those who rejoice. This isn’t optional - it’s what makes us family.
Sometimes this means bringing a meal to someone who’s sick, offering to babysit for overwhelmed parents, or simply sitting with someone who’s grieving. Other times it means having difficult conversations, offering accountability, or providing financial help. True family love is both tender and tough, always seeking the best for one another.
What practical step could you take this week to care for someone in your church family the way John cared for Mary?
“We are brothers and sisters in faith, called to care for one another, encourage one another and walk together as the family of God.”
Jesus, give me eyes to see the needs around me and a heart willing to act. Help me to be the kind of family member others can count on in both good times and difficult seasons.
LIVING AS FAMILY
The story of Mary and John didn’t end at the cross - it was just the beginning. From that day forward, they lived as mother and son, not because they had to, but because Jesus had made them family. Their relationship became a living testimony to the power of Christ to create lasting bonds of love.
This is our calling too. Every time we walk through the church doors, we’re not entering a building full of strangers or casual acquaintances. We’re coming home to family. We’re gathering with people who share our deepest identity - children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.
Living as family means practicing kindness even when we don’t feel like it. It means extending grace when others disappoint us. It means refusing to give up on hope, even when relationships get messy. It means choosing love over suspicion, connection over distance, and commitment over convenience.
The world is watching to see if our faith makes a real difference in how we treat each other. When we live as the family God created us to be - loving, forgiving, supporting, and caring for one another - we become a powerful witness to the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:15
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
How can you contribute to making your church feel more like a loving family and less like a gathering of strangers?
“Help us to live as members of the family you have created. People who practice kindness, who extend grace, and who refuse to give up on hope.”
God, thank you for your scandalous grace that includes everyone. Help me extend the same radical welcome to others that you have shown to me.Amen. prayer Luke 23:32-43
Lord, help me to live as a true member of your family. May my words and actions reflect the love you’ve shown me and draw others into the warmth of your embrace. prayer
