As Jesus is in the midst of what would be a 6-hour crucifixion, the Fourth Gospel notes, “Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” These women were committed disciples of Jesus, and they stayed with Jesus to His very end. When Jesus sees His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He says to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He says to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, John took her into his very home. Jesus is not simply honoring His mother and setting an example for children today; rather, in His final hours, Jesus continues His perfect, active obedience to God’s Torah in our place. Perfectly fulfilling the 4th commandment for us, Jesus makes earthly provision for His mother – very likely widowed, in her late 40s, and with little or no personal income. Hence, young children and adult children look to the cross of Christ today not just for inspiration and example, but for forgiveness, healing, and power to reconcile.