Fundamentals of the Christian Faith in the Light of the Gospels
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
The Effect which Jesus Produced on his Kith and Kin and Disciples: How Jesus Treated His Mother
Jesus’ mother reprimanded him for his indifferent behaviour even when he was a young boy, saying:
Son, Why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing (Luke, 2:48);
whereon Jesus, rather than express regret and apologies, gave reply, from which it appears that on account of his excessive religious zeal there was left in him no respect or feeling of affectionate regard for his parents. His disrespect for his mother can likewise be seen from the following words in which he addressed her, on the occasion of a marriage celebration, saying:
Woman, what have I to do with thee? (John, 2:4).
This statement evidently is devoid of all reverence and respect. But still more piquant and pungent was the allegation which Jesus had flung against his mother and near relatives, saying, that since they walked not in the way of God’s will and pleasure, his relation with them had altogether been snapped and that his near and dear ones were those who had accepted and believed in him. He said:
“Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shalt do the will of my Father … the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew, 12:48–50; Mark, 3:35; Luke, 8:21).
Jesus had indicated, in this way, that his mother and other relatives who had refused to accept his teaching, commanded no respect nor regard in his eyes.
Towards the close of his life, too, Jesus, while committing his mother Mary into the care of John, had accosted her in the same strain, saying:
“Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!” (John, 19:26–27).
It appears from this incident that there was, in the sight of Jesus and his disciples, no particular position for his mother Mary; for, otherwise, he would have felt no need of committing her to the care of his disciple. Moreover, the language employed by him on this occasion betrayed his indifference and disregard towards his mother. These narratives produce no wholesome effect on the impressionable minds of the younger folk, nor does any good example of Jesus come before their eyes to emulate.