JESUS' PROVISION FOR HIS MOTHER

1. John 19:25-27 "25 His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son."

27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour the disciple received her into his house. “

According to a study of the apologetics bible S. LETICIA CALÇADA RVR1960

Why would Jesus entrust his mother to the "disciple here in whom he loved"—the apostle John—instead of to her husband, Joseph, to one of her half-brothers? Presumably, by this time, Joseph had died, and Jesus' brothers had not yet become his followers. It is possible that John was a cousin of Jesus, so they had a biological as well as a spiritual bond. John's account mentions Mary and her sister as witnesses to the crucifixion. John does not reveal the name of Mary's sister, but Mark states that Salome was among the women present. She was the mother of Zebedee's sons, James and John (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56).

This biblical portion teaches us about Jesus' care of his mother, before he died he entrusts her to the care of the apostle John who, as Scripture states, took her to live in his house from that moment on. Even as Jesus lay dying on the cross, He cared for His family. That is why he asked John to take care of Mary.

This biblical portion has been used to support the doctrine that "Mary is the mother of mankind", when in fact it refers to what Christ is entrusting to his disciple, since this portion in the original Greek texts Jesus uses the words "METER (μήτηρ)" which mean: "To receive a Guest" (Strong's Greek Dictionary,  1926) which reflects what He really meant to mean.

Do these words of Jesus express some kind of extension in the maternal relationship of his mother Mary to all believers?

There is not the slightest reason to understand anything other than what the text says, namely, that at the imminent outcome of the sacrifice, Jesus places His mother in the care of John, His beloved disciple (John 19:26), who from that moment on lived with Him (verse 27).

From those 9 words we could make many assumptions. But ABSOLUTELY NONE will have a biblical basis, beyond the fact that Jesus, lovingly attentive to every detail, is entrusting the care of His mother into the hands of the beloved disciple.

But.. And Joseph her husband?

Joseph, Mary's husband, is named for the last time in Luke 2:41-52, when Jesus, at age 12, "goes missing" in Jerusalem, which happens approximately 21 years before His death. Therefore, it would not be strange to consider that at this point Mary was a widow.

Concerning Joseph, Mary's husband, a Bible commentator says:

"He is no longer mentioned with Mary and the brothers of Jesus, and Jesus' dedication of his mother to the care of John, at the foot of the cross, suggests that Joseph had already died then (Jn 19:26, 27)" Nelson, Wilton M., New Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible, (Nashville, TN: Editorial Caribe) 2000, c1998.

And what about Jesus' brothers?

Of Jesus' brothers the Scriptures declare that up to that point they were "unbelievers" of Christ's redemptive mission (John 7:5). It is only in Acts 1:14 that we see His brethren in the ministry. And later also in 1 Corinthians 9:5 and Gal 1:19 and 2:9, etc., so it is reasonable that at that time Jesus preferred to entrust His mother to the care of the apostle John.

Definition of this verse according to VINE, COMPREHENSIVE CONCORDANCE OF STRONG'S BIBLE and GREEK DICTIONARY:

This word "mother" in the original Greek expresses the natural relationship of mother son 2 Timothy 1:5 "bringing to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure in you also." And it also expresses a figurative meaning "of one who assumes the role of a mother."

The word "mother" in the original Greek is "Meter" which translates into Greek in three respects:

1. Of the natural relationship.
2. Figuratively.
3. Of the heavenly Jerusalem.
4. Symbolically in Babylon.

The quotations that use this same word "meter" used by Jesus according to (Vine Exhaustive Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

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THIS WORD IN THE GREEK is used for various figures and representations, and not merely to indicate the natural mother-child relationship, but in the sense of many images which may represent many ideas. For example:

This teaches us different areas where this same word is used in the Greek designating a relationship in a figurative sense with respect and not love for others.

And not a relationship as has been taught regarding this verse, saying that Mary is the mother of all since in the original Greek we do not find a designation for her as universal mother or of all humanity, that would be to give another meaning to the one that Jesus is giving it.

The original Greek means much more and not the meaning they are giving it. Another meaning according to Vine is: "of the heavenly and spiritual Jerusalem" in Galatians 4:26 "But the Jerusalem above, which is the mother of us all, is free."

CONCLUSION: Jesus speaks to his disciple entrusting the care of Mary as if she were his own mother, so from that same hour the disciple took her to his house.