John 19:26 (RSVCE): When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
The word “woman” implies a certain solemnity and contains a special emphasis; most authors are inclined to see in this title given to Mary a clear allusion to the “protoevangelium” (cf. Gen 3:15), which speaks of the triumph of the woman and her seed over the serpent.
For the meaning of the words of this verse it should be said that the Gospel account of this dialogue between Jesus and his Mother, does not give us his gestures, tone of voice, etc.: to us, for example, his answer sounds harsh, as if he were saying, “This is no concern of ours,” But that was not the case.
“Woman” is a respectful title, rather like “lady” or “madam”; it is a formal way of speaking.
“Woman” both in Greek and Semitic is a title not indeed of domestic intimacy (our Lord would not have used it in Nazareth) but of solemn honor. This honorific may be tested in John 4:21; 20:15, but most of all in John 19:26, when addressing his mother from the cross with great affection and veneration. So, you see, Jesus was not speaking harshly to his mother, he was addressing her with respect, as if to say, “My lady, behold your son”. The literal or immediate sense of Jesus’ words: “Woman, behold your son” (addressed to his mother) and “Behold your mother” (addressed to John) is a last touching fulfilment of the fourth commandment. Jesus provides for his mother, and the privileged legatee of this precious trust is “the disciple that Jesus loved”.