Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus, and a system for processing a message. The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications, and can increase the connection reestablishment success rate in a wireless communication system using an RN. The method for processing a message includes: receiving a handover request message A from an SeNB; parsing the handover request message A to obtain identity information of a reestablished cell controlled by an RN and user equipment context information prepared for the reestablished cell; and sending a first message to the RN according to the identity information of the reestablished cell, where the first message includes the user equipment context information prepared for the reestablished cell, where the user equipment context information provides a basis for the RN to prepare a connection. The present invention is mainly applicable to handover and reestablishment in a wireless communication system.