John 19:25-27
25 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 nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Present at his birth, present at his death. Jesus’ mother Mary stood faithfully by as her son suffered in agony and died. Parents should not outlive their children. And why was she there? Did she travel with the disciples? Or was she somehow alerted to the fact that her son was arrested and about to be executed?
Either way, the Christmas story is inextricably tied up with the Easter story. Birth and Death and Resurrection, the miracle of God made flesh to dwell among us. We are reconciled to God through Jesus’ life and death.