Jesus Cares for His Mother

September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Preschool Edition JESUS CARES FOR HIS MOTHER

When Jesus was dying on the cross, His mother, the Theotokos, stood right by the cross. Her sister Mary (the wife of Clopas) and Mary Magdalene were there, too, and so was John, the disciple that Jesus loved so much. Jesus looked down from where He was on the cross, and said to His mother, “Look, there is your son!” Then He looked at John and told him, “See, she is your mother!” and after that, John took Jesus’ mother to his own home.

This same disciple is the one that wrote these things down, and all of it is true. But there were so many things that Jesus did. If everything He did could be written down, probably the whole world would not be big enough to hold all of the books that would be written!

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WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1. Where did Mary, Jesus’ mother, stand when He was on the cross? 2. Tell the name of someone else who was there. 3. Jesus told someone to take care of His mother. Who was that? 4. Where did John take Jesus’ mother, Mary, after that? 5. Who wrote all of this down? 6. What would not be big enough to hold all of the books if we wrote everything that Jesus did?

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September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Coloring Sheet

Icon courtesy of Iconographics (www.theologic.com) Let Us Attend! is published by the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Christian Education (www.antiochian.org). If you would like information on our present programs and future initiatives, contact [email protected]. We gratefully acknowledge support from the Orderof St. Ignatius which funds, in part, the work of the Department.

Visit www.antiochian.org/LetUsAttend for free downloads related to this Gospel story: mp3 audio, coloring sheet, script for readers’ theater, and handouts for preschool through high school. Pre-12 Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AODCE. September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Grades K-2 Edition JESUS CARES FOR HIS MOTHER

When Jesus was dying on the cross, His mother, the Theotokos, stood right by the cross. Her sister Mary (the wife of Clopas) and Mary Magda- lene were there, too, and so was John, the disciple that Jesus loved so much. Jesus looked down from where He was on the cross, and said to His mother, “Look, there is your son!” Then He looked at John and told him, “See, she is your mother!” and after that, John took Jesus’ mother to his own home. This same disciple is the one that wrote these things down, and all of it is true. But there were so many things that Jesus did. If everything He did could be written down, probably the whole world would not be big enough to hold all of the books that would be written!

Icon courtesy of Iconographics (www.theologic.com)

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1. Did Mary, Jesus’ mother, hide when He was on the cross? How do you know? 2. Where did Mary and the others who really loved Jesus stand in those hours? 3. What did Jesus call John when He spoke to His mother Mary? What did He call her when He spoke to John? 4. Did Jesus calling them those names change how Mary and John interacted? 5. How do we know that all of these things John wrote down are true? 6. Is it possible to write down everything Jesus did? What makes you say that?

September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Grades 3-5 Edition

At that time, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

1. Who stood by the cross as Jesus hung there? Why do you suppose they were there? How do you think they felt about being there? 2. Even when He was suffering so much, Christ took care of His mother. What did He do? 3. How did John and Mary’s relationship change after this conversation? 4. Who wrote all of this down, and knew that it was true? 5. Can you imagine how much Jesus must have done for John to write what he said about the world not being big enough to hold all of the books if everything had been written? How does that make you feel?

September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Readers’ Theatre

Characters: Narrator, Jesus Narrator: At that time, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, Jesus: Woman, behold, your son! Narrator: Then he said to the disciple, Jesus: Behold, your mother! Narrator: And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

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September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 Middle School Edition JESUS CARES FOR HIS MOTHER

At that time, standing by WHAT DO YOU THINK? the cross of Jesus were 1. When Jesus was on his mother, and his the cross, where mother's sister, Mary the were the people who had been the wife of Clopas, and Mary closest to Him? Magdalene. When Jesus 2. If you had been saw his mother, and the alive when Jesus was on the cross, disciple whom he loved would you have standing near, he said to been there beside his mother, "Woman, Him, or safely watching (and per- behold, your son!" Then haps praying) from he said to the disciple, a distance? Why? "Behold, your mother!" 3. How did Jesus take care of His mother And from that hour the right before He disciple took her to his died? own home. 4. Did John and Mary follow through with This is the disciple who is Jesus’ plan? How do bearing witness to these you know? 5. Who wrote all of things, and who has this down, and written these things; and knew that it was we know that his testi- true? When you see something and mony is true. But there write about it, do are also many other you feel the same things which Jesus did; way? 6. Since the world is were every one of them not big enough for to be written, I suppose all the books that that the world itself would have to be written to record all could not contain the that Jesus did, can books that would be you think of any written. other ways it could have been record- ed?

September 26, 2021 Falling Asleep of John the Theologian John 19:25-27; 21:24-25 High School Edition JESUS CARES FOR HIS MOTHER

At that time, standing by the cross of WHAT DO YOU THINK? Jesus were his mother, and his moth- 1. Imagine being Mary er's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, or John or any of and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus the others standing by the cross. How saw his mother, and the disciple do you think they whom he loved standing near, he said must have felt as to his mother, "Woman, behold, your Jesus hung there, dying? son!" Then he said to the disciple, 2. Have you stood by "Behold, your mother!" And from that someone who is hour the disciple took her to his own struggling? Why did you not leave them home. in that moment? 3. Has someone This is the disciple who is bearing wit- stayed with you ness to these things, and who has through a terrible written these things; and we know struggle? How did that his testimony is true. But there that affect your strug- are also many other things which Je- gle? sus did; were every one of them to be 4. Jesus knew that written, I suppose that the world it- Mary, a widow who was about to lose self could not contain the books that her only son in a would be written. society where men cared for the wom- en in their house- hold, would need a man to look after her when He passed away. How did Je- sus tend to that, while hanging on the cross? 5. If you were John, how would you re- act to Jesus calling you His mother’s son and calling her your mother? Why?