| March
2009 - Vol. 28
The
Word of Affection
“Mother behold
your son;
son behold your
mother”
–
John 19:26,27
commentary
and painting
by
John Dunne
We cannot but be aware of the rich symbolism contained in this scene,
as the mother of Jesus is placed into the care of the “beloved disciple”
and John is likewise placed into the care of Mary.
In this work I have John looking up into the face of his friend and
master, Jesus, who is in the final throes of dying. John holds the hand
of Mary as he receives the last wishes of Jesus. This is the mother who
has watched her son mature from the boy to the man. The one who has walked
and talked with him even when others thought him mad. This was the mother
who was present during the wedding at Cana and who ushered him into his
public ministry. Here now, she is fulfilling the prophecy of Simeon “that
a sword would pierce her own heart.” |
The
Word of Affection,
oil painting by John Dunne
|
Even at this moment of numbing pain, the son does not forget those he is
leaving behind. He makes sure that the one who protected and was responsible
for his welfare during his formative years will now be under the protection
of his trusted friend John. John was later to resettle with Mary to Ephesus
(in present day Turkey), away from the persecutions that would follow the
death of Jesus. Tradition has it that it was there that John wrote his
account of the life of Jesus, no doubt assisted by the memories of Mary.
John’s account of the events and their possible meanings differ in many
ways from the Synoptic accounts, but in relation to this particular event
and of these particular words spoken from the cross the accounts match.
John, however, viewed this man hanging on this cross in a different light,
for here in his view hung the God-man. This man was no less than the Son
of God!
From John’s point of view the crucifixion beggars belief; how was it
that God in his love for us was pouring out the life of his own son? Later
on John would come to understand this self-emptying of God as love. Love
for humanity. Love for you and me and love for his church.
And at this moment we have the first hint of that church.
For Mary would become the mother of the church and the early church
would in turn confess her as the mother of God (theotokos, which means
God-bearer) and the redeemer. By her prayers and association with the apostles
she is truly the first in rank in the church and the arm of the church
that provides its heart.
Go
to > Next
page | Introduction
|
.
|
. |
|