John 19:25-3025Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:25‑30). Matt. 27:45-5445Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:45‑54)
JESUS’ mother, Mary, stood near the cross. She came to see her Son die. She was very sorry. She felt her heart full of pain at the sight.
She loved her dear, good Son, who had been kind to her ever since He was a baby. He had never done one thing wrong, and she knew He was the Son of God. Jesus was sorry to see His mother’s grief.
John had come to the cross, and he was standing near Mary. Jesus wished John to take care of His mother, now that He was going to leave her. So He said to His mother, ‘Behold your son!’ And He said to John, ‘Behold your mother!’
John knew what Jesus meant, and he took Mary to be his mother. So after that Mary always lived with him. Jesus loved His mother, and thought of her even when He was dying.
Jesus was full of pain, and it was very hot. He said, ‘I thirst!’ The soldiers took a sponge and dipped it in vinegar. Then they put it on a reed and gave it to Jesus.
Jesus just tasted the vinegar and said, ‘It is finished!’ Then He died. His spirit went to His Father, but His body was still hanging on the cross.
It was three o’clock in the afternoon when Jesus died. He had been nailed to the cross all day. Before Jesus died God had made it very dark, to show He was angry with the wicked people. And God made the earth shake. The people were frightened; and when Jesus was dead, some of them said, ‘This must have been the Son of God.’
Mary beholds One dying there,
Whom in her arms she once did bear
And to her bosom press.
On her He casts His pitying eye,
For who should now His place supply,
And cheer her loneliness?
The loving John shall be her son,
And cherish her till life is done,
Within his humble home:
And oft together they shall speak
Of Him who, once despised and weak,
At last in clouds shall come.
O gentle Lord, how great the love,
Which made Thy tender pity move,
Ev’n in the hour of death.
O let me show my parents dear
The same kind love and thoughtful care,
Until their final breath.
Questions
Where was Jesus’ mother, Mary, when He was on the cross?
Who stood near Mary?
Who took care of her after Jesus was crucified?
What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink?
What did Jesus say just before He died?
What frightened the people just before He died?
How they treated Christ when He was thirsty on the cross:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: