became so; but there may have been other reasons also, to us
unknown.

At all events, it is easy to see how kind and considerate was the
selection of St. John for this office. There are indications in the
Gospels that St. John was wealthier, or at least more comfortable in
his circumstances, than the rest of the Apostles; and this may have
weighed with Jesus: He would not send His mother where she would feel
herself to be a burden. It is highly probable also that St. John was
unmarried. But there were deeper reasons. There was no arm on which
His mother could lean so confidently as that of him who had leaned on
her Son's breast. St. Peter, with his hot temper and rough fisherman's
ways, would not have been nearly so eligible a choice. John and Mary
were kindred spirits. They were especially one in their intense
affection for Jesus. They would never tire of speaking to one another
about Him. He honoured both of them in each other's eyes by giving
them to one another in this way. If He gave Mary a great gift in
giving her St. John for a son, He gave him no less a gift by giving him
such a mother; for Mary could not but be an ornament to any home.
Besides, did He not make St. John in a quite peculiar sense His own
brother by substituting him in His own stead as the son of Mary?

The Evangelist says that from that hour John took her to his own home.
Many have understood this to mean that he at once gently withdrew her
from the spot, that she should not be agitated by seeing the
death-throes of her Son, though he himself returned to Calvary. It is
said by tradition that they lived together twelve years in Jerusalem,
and that he refused to leave the city, even for the purpose of
preaching the gospel, as long as Mary survived. Only after her death
did he depart on those missionary travels which landed him in Ephesus
and its neighbourhood, with which his later history is connected.

IV.

It is not difficult to read the lesson of this touching scene. From
the pulpit of His cross Jesus preaches to all ages a sermon on the
fifth commandment.

The heart of the mother of Jesus was pierced with a sword on account of
His sufferings. It was a sharp weapon; but Mary had one thing on which
to steady up her soul; it kept her calm even in the wildest moment of
her grief--she knew He was innocent. He had always been pure, noble
and good; she could be proud of Him even when they were crucifying Him.
Many a mother's hea