So, when Christ spoke to John saying “behold your mother” you would interpret him to be ultimately speaking to all of us? In the Protestant church where I grew up we simply interpreted that passage as Jesus instructing John to look after his mother after his death.
ds,
in one sense, you could say that Christ was just saying to watch his mother, but there is more to the words of the dying Jesus that actually show that his first intention was not to entrust his Mother to John, but to entrust the disciple to Mary and to give her a new maternal role.
remmber to when he uses the term, “woman”, also usedat the wedding in Cana to lead Mary to a new dimension of her existence as Mother?
it shows how the Saviour’s words are not the fruit of a simple sentiment of filial affection but are meant to be put at a higher level.
If we as Christians are brothers of Jesus, then, as with Jesus, God is our Father and Mary is our Mother. The bible also teaches, that all Christians become part of the body of Christ. Again this re-emphasises the fact that as Christians become one with Jesus they share with Him, the Fatherhood of God and also, the motherhood of Mary.
The New Testament has two further passages which confirm Mary's motherhood of Christians:
Near the cross of Jesus, stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on the disciple took her into his home.
John 19.25
This is not just a personal bequest of his Mother to John, but, being from the cross itself, has a greater significance. First of all, if Jesus were merely asking John to take care of Mary, He would have made His first request to John. But if you look at the passage, you will see that His first statement is to Mary. The emphasis is therefore upon Mary being Mother to John, not John "looking after" Mary. John here represents all the disciples of Jesus, and hence all Christians, who are given Mary as their Mother.
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 12.17
This passage shows the Dragon (Satan), making war on the Woman (Mary)'s offspring, following the birth of Jesus. These offspring, clearly represent the community of Christians, who are "the rest of" Mary's children.