Understanding Who Is The New Eve
By Markelle
At the end of His crucifixion, Jesus addresses Mary for the last time in John 19:26, "Woman, behold, your son." His words are significant and layered with profound meaning. In the goodbye to His faithful mother, He honors her tremendously by calling her “woman," in modern English text, readers may be confused by Jesus' use of the term "woman," misunderstanding the word to be disrespectful or strange. However, when examining the word's literal sense, the term Jesus used for "woman" was "gynai," a respectful form of address in the original Greek language in which the New Testament was written.
Exploring more in-depth into the spiritual sense, the use of "woman" to address Mary echoes the language used in the book of Genesis, where Eve is referred to as "woman" (Genesis 2:23). This connection highlights Mary's role as the New Eve, a significant role in the redemption and salvation brought by Jesus.
The term can also be seen as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as the reference to the woman in Genesis 3:15, where it is foretold that the offspring of the woman will conquer evil. By addressing Mary as "woman," Jesus affirms His role as the New Adam and her role as His faithful Eve, whose devotion delivered His life.
Uniting Genesis to the cross makes the final moment between Jesus and Mary extremely significant. The Bible begins with a man and a woman who will die because they ate an apple in disobedience to God. The crucifixion fulfills the story, where the new Adam, Jesus, sacrifices Himself on a tree for us in obedience to God. The New Eve, Mary, doesn't eat the apple of sin. Her faithfulness directs all of God's children to salvation, highlighting her universal role as the mother of all believers.
As Catholics, we seek her intercession and guidance, as she has spiritual importance. In the Gospel of John, for example, Jesus refers to Mary as "woman" at the wedding at Cana, where He performs His first miracle. "Jesus said to her, woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." (John 2: 4). This story reveals that Mary's role extends beyond her familial relationship with Jesus to a broader spiritual significance.
In the solemn moment of John 19: 26, Jesus' final words reflect Mary's unique role in God's salvation plan as the New Eve and her universal maternal role for all believers. Further, He displays a loving concern for her well-being. He entrusted the care of His mother to the beloved disciple, revealing something extortionary- amid all of His suffering, taking upon Himself the sins of the world, our Savior, up until His last breath, displayed profound love, concern, and honor for His mother.
Jesus's love for his mother amid pain and suffering is a beautiful invitation for believers to mirror Christ by honoring and caring for the Blessed Mother as the New Eve and their spiritual mother.
