How Jesus treated His mother

This month we celebrate Mother’s Day. For many people, Mother’s Day is a joyous occasion. It is a time where children and mothers spend time together enjoying each other, sending flowers,  signing cards, and usually sharing a delicious meal. It is a time to recognize your mother.

The Bible tells two times that Jesus recognized His mother, Mary.

The first time was when Mary asked Jesus to solve a problem for the host family being humiliated at their child’s wedding.  

Weddings would last several days. The hosts were running out of wine. This would be a shameful disgrace. Jesus performed his first miracle. He turned water into wine at this wedding in Cana as explained in John chapter two.

At first, Jesus said, “My hour has not yet come.” Even Jesus’ mother could not hurry things along. He then performed the miracle anyway.  He demonstrated respect and compassion for his mother.

John 19:26-27 reports Jesus, while hanging on the cross, tells His disciple John to care for his mother. He instructs Mary, "Woman, behold your son!" and then tells John, "Behold your mother!" This shows the love and concern Jesus had for His mother even in His final moments. Jesus was bearing the sins of the entire world. He was just beaten and flogged mercilessly for several hours after having no sleep the night before. To make sure His mother will be taken care of shows tremendous love. Jesus, even in his suffering, ensures his mother is cared for after his death. 

These two stories also have significance for us.

 Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana demonstrates the power of Jesus and His ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. We need to believe He is still capable of doing that today in our lives. It showed the concern Jesus had for the wedding host. He cares just as much for us today.

The beauty of the other final words Jesus spoke as He was dying in agony also proves how much He cares for us. Jesus said to the criminal hanging next to Him, “Today you shall be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:43).” He said to the crowd, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing (Luke 23:34).” That amount of love for people is amazing.

We understand it is proper we show respect and celebrate a day for our mothers. It is still mind boggling to understand the unfathomable love God demonstrates for us every day.