The eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude that had collected together to witness his death, and he saw at the foot of the cross John supporting Mary, the mother of Christ. She had returned to the terrible scene, not being able to longer remain away from her son. The last lesson of Jesus was one of filial love. He looked upon the grief-stricken face of his mother, and then upon John; said he, addressing the former: “Woman, behold thy son.” Then, to the disciple: “Behold, thy mother,” John well understood the words of Jesus, and the sacred trust which was committed to him. He immediately removed the mother of Christ from the fearful scene of Calvary. From that hour he cared for her as would a dutiful son, taking her to his own home. O pitiful, loving Saviour! Amid all his physical pain, and mental anguish, he had a tender, thoughtful care for the mother who had borne him. He had no money to leave her, by which to insure her future comfort, but he was enshrined in the heart of John, and he gave his mother unto the beloved disciple as a sacred legacy. This trust was to prove a great blessing to John, a constant reminder of his beloved Master. {3SP 160.2}

Jesus så ud over mængden, som havde samlet sig for at være vidne til hans (161) død, og han så ved korsets fod Johannes, der understøttede Maria, Kristi moder. Hun var vendt tilbage til den forfærdelige scene ude af stand til længere at være borte fra sin søn. Den sidste undervisning, Jesus gav, var om sønlig kærlighed. Han så på sin moders kummerfulde ansigt og derefter på Johannes og sagde til sin moder: "Kvinde! se, det er din søn." Og til disciplen sagde han: "Se, det er din moder." (Joh 19,26.27) Johannes forstod godt Jesu ord og den hellige pligt, som han overdrog ham. Han førte straks Kristi moder bort fra den rædselsfulde scene på Golgatha, og fra den stund sørgede han som en søn for hende og tog hende til sit eget hjem. hvor medfølende og kærlig Frelseren var! Under al sin legemssmerte og sjælekval havde han en øm, betænksom omhu for sin moder, som havde født ham. Han kunne ikke efterlade hende penge, hvorved hendes fremtidige velfærd kunne sikres; men han var elsket af Johannes, og han gav sin moder til den elskede discipel som en hellig arv. Denne pligt skulle blive til stor velsignelse for Johannes og bestandig minde ham om hans elskede Mester.