The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 31 – Epilogue

Endings are the hardest - but one has to get there sometime on this finite earth. I hope you catch some of the emotion, the excitement that gripped Jesus followers in the days after his resurrection as I did writing this...

Mary never did see Jesus again – on this earth. His disappearance left an ache in her heart that would never completely fill. However, she was not unbearably sad about it. He had told her where he was going and that they would re-unite again someday. He had told her that this time they would be together forever.  She had been so happy to hear that and began to dream about what that might be like. How she looked forward to that day. There was nothing more she wanted than to be with her beloved son. 

For a while though, Mary still continued to hear stories about Jesus being around and meeting with people. She felt a surge of excitement every time she heard such news. He had spent most of his time with his disciples, which was understandable. Mary knew there was a lot he wanted to make sure they knew and understood now about what he had all been about.  He had even met with a large crowd to hear him teach and heal some of their number on at least one occasion (I Corinthians 15:6). 

Then she heard that Jesus had gone again with his disciples to one of their favourite spots, the Mount of Olives looking over Jerusalem. This was where he had been so violently torn away from them just weeks before. He had left unexpectedly left them again but this time it had been totally different. 

It had been a beautiful sunlit spring day, with just the type of breeze that warms your body as it blows around you. The blue sky had been as clear as could be. The new grass and the leaves on the trees had never seemed so green. The bird songs around them had never sounded so special.  No one disturbed them. They had sat down and enjoyed one another’s company in a way they had never really done before. The disciples were literally basking in the light of the Son. 

Jesus had taken the opportunity,  as it turned out, to give them what were some final instructions. He had told them (Matthew)28:18“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” You too (Acts) 1:7“will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (Matthew) 28:19… Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Then, before they had quite realized where this was leading, he had comforted them with these words (Matthew 28:20), “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Then he had stood up and (Luke 24:50) “and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.24:51…During the blessing (Acts 1:9) “he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 1:11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” The disciples had realized immediately these were angels, with a message that could be trusted. (Luke 24:52)“So they had worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” 

The disciples had met in John Mark’s home, the same place where they had celebrated the las Passover Jesus had with them. They had decided that everyone who had been close to Jesus should join them in Jerusalem to wait for this special event and receive the same blessing of the Holy Spirit they had received. Thus, it had been that an invitation had been extended to Jesus’ mother Mary and her family too. Mary was very glad to hear this. Her excitement prevailed upon Jesus’ brothers and they all agreed together to journey down to Jerusalem to wait for this special day. 

Jesus was gone, but the fact that he had fulfilled the prophecies of the ages, as they had now come to understand, and his own promises, had so energized them, there was no sadness among them. He had spoken soften of the Kingdom of Heaven being near. Indeed, in their eager anticipation of Jesus’ last promise, they believed it had already come. They worshipped and praised God with fervently thankful hearts for all that had been accomplished and looked forward with utmost anticipation to what lay ahead.

The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 30 – Reunion in Galilee

Mary was glad to be home, away from those terrible scenes in Jerusalem. It seemed so peaceful in Nazareth in comparison. Now, she just hoped her son would join her again. He had told his disciples he would meet them in Galilee, but had not really said where. All she could really do was wait and hope. Well, she did pray that her son would come home to visit. She had also made John promise that when they met Jesus – if they saw him first – they would tell him his mother really wanted to see him at home. It was actually a little lonely here now, with her other children grown and gone, although they were all nearby.   

She was just stopping tidying up and looking at what she needed in terms of food and supplies to take a break for lunch when there he was – across the table like in old times. Of course, she was startled and for a brief moment a fear gripped her. But then she remembered the disciples telling her how he had been appearing to them, just like a ghost out of thin air.

“Oh, Jesus,” she cried. Jesus caught her in his arms and stroked her hair as she sobbed in his strong embrace, “I didn’t know when or where I would see you again, or even if.”

“Mother,” Jesus said comfortingly, “Where would I go first but home? I know I did not come home as often as you would have liked, but you know I had a task to do. Now, my work on earth is almost done, and I must return to our heavenly Father.”  

“You know, Jesus,” Mary said, “I still am not sure what ‘your work,’ as you say, on earth really was.”

“Mother,” said Jesus gently, “Let me explain it to you now, and I know you will see how everything that happened was planned by my heavenly Father.”

So, beginning with Genesis and The Law, working through the Psalms and The Prophets, Jesus showed how his coming had been predicted so exactly. He told here why they had to go to Egypt, to fulfil prophecy. She had often wondered about that. It had been such a disruption in their lives at the time. There had also been so much fear, running from that terrible Herod’s soldiers. Jesus explained how, as the new Moses, a giver of a new law, of love, he came from Egypt to deliver his people, just as Moses had done. 

He spoke of how God planned things versus what the Jews had erroneously come to expect of their long-awaited Messiah. He told his mother how God worked, so often just the opposite of what people expected. That was why his people had not seen who he was and had killed him. they had just not understood. Even that , as Jesus pointed out, was a fulfilment of Prophet Isaiah’s words about people seeing and hearing, but not really. Mary had certainly wondered about why Jesus had to die that way. But then Jesus told her the most wonderful story of all.

Jesus told her how he could have easily avoided that death, simply by calling on angels. After all, he was God’s Son. Mary could see that. She had seen him do enough miracles to have some idea of what that meant. However, Jesus said, he had to die as the prefect God-man to show that only in total surrender, giving even one’s life, is the way to new and eternal life. Ever since Adam and Eve, people had clung to their own abilities, trying vainly to hang on to the life they had, never totally letting go experience the fullness of the blessings His Heavenly Father wanted to give them. No one was sinless in that regard. Mary certainly grasped that. As the sinless one though, Jesus’ death, because he was also God, took away our sin, our pride, our punishment, our sentence of death for that, and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God again in a way no animal or other sacrifice could ever do. 

Mary’s eyes were indeed opened as she realized how contrary much of what she had come to expect was compared to what Jehovah had actually accomplished through her son. Remaining at home most of the time in Nazareth, she had not heard all that Jesus had said in his three short years of ministry, but Jesus put it all together for her. Jesus also told her some of what was to come in the near future and even how she could be part of that. 

When Jesus had completed his discourse, Mary took a deep breath and responded, “It is still so new, much of it, but it makes so much sense. It is beautiful, what the father has done. It is still hard to accept though, what you had to go through to accomplish this. I will never fully understand your love and commitment, your obedience. You have certainly shown us the face and the mind of the Father in a new way, which we will never forget.”

“And I know, mother,” Jesus said as he stood and moved toward her, “You will be an important part of what happens from now on. But I still have work to do here. I must go and tell my brothers what I have told you. I have to trust them – and you – to continue to carry on my work. I must return to my Father. My work on earth will be done soon. However, as I told my friends at Passover, after I have returned to my Father, we will send our Spirit to live in each one of you who believe. The Spirit will help you remember all that I have lived and taught so you can carry on your mission of being the face of the Father in the world we created for you to enjoy. The Spirit will give you power such as I showed so you can teach and preach in the same way I did, so you can heal and cast out demons as I did. You can do all this now because I, in my death and resurrection, have overcome the evil of the world. 

The Father and I have defeated Satan. You no longer need to fear him. The time is not here yet for the final punishment for the evil one, but once our mission on earth is complete, he will receive the punishment he deserves for what he has done to so spoil what we have created. You have no idea what a beautiful world it was in the beginning and will be again. Someday I will return – yes, I will come back! - to make that final conquest of evil. Then you will see me as the all-powerful King and Deliverer that everyone thought I was going to be now.  Then we will re-establish the order my Father intended when he first created everything. Indeed, it will be like a totally new earth and heaven when we are done with the renewal. It will be the best reward imaginable for all that you have had to suffer in your lives on this current earth.”

“Mother, thank you for everything you have been for me. I could not have wished for a better mother. You have no idea how much I really love you. God knew what he was doing when he chose you. I know we will miss each other dearly, but this is the way it has to be. I must return to The Father, and soon, but, as I said, I will send my Spirit to be with you all and comfort and strengthen you as you carry on what I have only begun. And, mother, remember, as I said, I will come again and this time I you will be with me – forever. It might not happen in your lifetime, but even if you die before the appointed time for my return, and only The Father knows when that will be, I will be with you once again – forever.”

Before Mary had a chance to respond to all of that, Jesus wrapped his big loving arms around his mother and held her in a tight embrace before he was gone as suddenly and mysteriously as he had appeared.

The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 29 – The Evening of the First Day of the Week

The following morning Mary was completing her preparations to return to Nazareth. It was still quite early though when John and some of the other disciples appeared at the door. May could tell again by their haste and the expressions on their faces that they had news for her they were eager to share. She was almost used to John appearing with unusual news. She knew they were not simply coming to accompany her back to Galilee as they had promised yesterday.

“Mother Mary,” John was the first to speak, “You won’t believe what happened yesterday. We were all gathered at John Mark’s home making preparations for our trip today when two of our group who had been on their way home to Emmaus came in. We could tell they were rather out of breath. They told us they had been home but something had happened and they had hurried back to give us great news. They told an unbelievable story of a man having suddenly come and walked with them. They wondered where he was from as he had not seemed to know what had gone on in Jerusalem these last few days. When they filled him in this stranger had begun to teach them from our Law about how the Son of Man had to be crucified and then rise again in fulfilment of what the law and the prophets had written. When they got home they wanted to hear more and he accepted an invitation to eat with them and continue the discussion. He had taken it upon himself to ask the blessing on the food, like Jesus always did, and just like that, he disappeared. Then it dawned on them; this man was none other than Jesus!” 

“But what happened next was even more incredulous! They had barely finished telling us this story when whom should appear but Jesus himself! It was absolutely amazing. We were at first somewhat afraid because suddenly there was this figure in our midst. He had not even knocked on the door, which in fact we had kept locked, as we were still afraid the police would come after us too. It seemed he had not come through it at all. We thought it was a ghost. But then he spoke, telling us not to be afraid. It was the same familiar voice.”

“We had still been eating supper when the friends from Emmaus had arrived, so Jesus asked us for something to eat to prove he was not a ghost. We gave him some of our fish and indeed, he ate it and it was gone. Then Jesus made us all feel a little ashamed for how many people, starting with our sisters Mary from Magdala, Joanna, Susanna and the others had told us in the morning Jesus was resurrected and we had not believed. He invited us to touch him and see that he was real. He actually showed us his hands and feet, which still bore the scars from his crucifixion, but they were all healed! I tell you, we were all so excited we just crowded round him to touch him to see if he was real. Of course, we also wanted to see what he had to tell us. Well, now we believe that he is alive because we have seen him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. That is what is most important.”

Mary could not believe her ears. Was Jesus alive after all? Had he in fact risen from the dead? The conviction with which John and the others told her of what had happened erased all her doubts. Now all she wanted was to see her beloved son for herself.  And what did it mean for them all that he was alive again. What would he do now?

“So, Mary,” continued John. “We were going to take you with us to Galilee, remember? Now we all have all the more reason to hurry back there, so we can meet Jesus again.”

Mary nodded and quickly gathered her things together. Then she bid her parents an emotional farewell. They were so happy too. Turning away, she joined the young men who were already making their way out the door. This was indeed going to be another exciting chapter in the book of her life. She could hardly wait.

The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 28 – The Morning of the First Day of the Week

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Mary woke to see sunlight streaming in through the windows. Such a bright morning would usually give her energy and hope for a new day. If she were at home she would get up and begin to cheerfully go about her daily tasks. However, almost immediately, any such thoughts were banished by the memories of the last two days that came flooding back. 

But life had to go on. She had her parents here. She had Joseph’s family up in Nazareth. Slowly, she rose and began to get ready for the day.  She would have to think about returning to Nazareth. 

At breakfast, now that there was more distance between the three of them and the events of The Day Preparation, Mary and her parents slowly began to sift through what had happened. Of course, the big question, especially on Mary’s mind, was ‘What now?’ She still could not accept that it was all over. So much hope had been awakened. had been promised. So much had been done by Jesus in the last few years. 

They were considering all these thoughts when who should again appear at the door but Jesus’ disciple John. Mary could see there was something of great import on his mind. Sure enough, he could hardly wait to go through the niceties of normal greetings before he hurried forward and taking her by the arms, looked into her face, “Mother Mary, the tomb is empty! Peter and I saw it for ourselves. You remember how Mary Magdalene and some of the other women had prepared spices and oils and were going to go to the tomb and embalm Jesus? Well, they of course had been wondering how they would roll the stone away we saw the tomb being sealed with when they got there so they could get at Jesus’ body. Indeed, the Jewish leaders had been so afraid something would happen, they had posted guards at the tomb yesterday evening. But they were no longer there when the women arrived, and the stone was rolled aside! They did not know what to make of that but when they came nearer Mary from Magdala said two angels appeared. They had been terrified but the messengers had told them not to be afraid. They had told the women Jesus had risen, as he had said he would ‘Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,Luke 24:7that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”24:8Then the women remembered his words. The angel invited them to look inside and see that the tomb was indeed empty.  Then he told them to go quickly and tell us Jesus was going to Galilee and we would see him there!”

Mary’s mind was spinning. Was it really true? Was Jesus alive again? Mary could hardly believe her hears. Had Jesus really come back from the grave as he had said he would? It had seemed too impossible when he had first begun such talk. But then, there had been Lazarus. But John was not finished with his story.

“The women came and told us. We could not believe it at first.  But then Mary from Magdala came running with an even more startling report. She had stayed behind when the other women had come running. She said she saw Jesus in the garden. He called her by name! And he also told her to tell us to go and meet him in Galilee!”

“Her story seemed unbelievable too so Peter and I ran to the tomb and saw it was just as they had said. We saw the tomb, empty except for the clothes Joseph of Arimathea and his servants had wrapped the body in. We still wondered what had all happened. But it does seem true. Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. We have to make plans now to return to Galilee. After all, that is our home. In fact, Peter and some of us had already talked about how we had to go back and get to work. We have to fish to earn our living. Why don’t you come with us? It will be better for you than travelling otherwise. You cannot go alone.”

Mary hardly knew how to respond to all of this. Was Jesus really alive? She wanted so much for that to be true but his death had seemed so real. Still, as John said, and she had also begun to think about, they had to keep on living and face reality.

“You are very kind, John,” Mary said, “Let me think of your offer. We will let you know what I will do. I will have to do some shopping here before I return. I would like to say goodbye to my Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Zechariah too. They will want to know what you have told me too.”

Mary’s heart still ached for her dear Uncle and Aunt. They had been so happy when the long-awaited John had been promised and been born. But now he too had been killed by the king. All the hopes for him had also seemed to be unfulfilled.

With that, John bade them all farewell and left.

The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 27 – The Darkest Sabbath

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

From this point on the original version of the story and the so-called Catholic are one, hence the dropping of the subtitle, "The Catholic Version." Joseph and Jesus' siblings don't enter the biblical narrative together with any reference to Mary at this point and onward, so their continued story is immaterial to the conclusion of my version of Mary's story. Joseph is generally regarded by all Christians and historians as deceased by this time because his name never appears again after the family trip to Jerusalem for the passover when Jesus was 12. Jesus' siblings, particularly James, do possibly figure prominently in the life of the early Church, but that is beyond the scope of this story.

+ + + + + + +

John took his mother home first as it was nearer to the troubling scene they were leaving behind them. Then he walked Mary back to her parents’ home as dusk deepened. They hurried as the chill of the night began to envelop them, pulling their cloaks tightly around them. Little was said; they were all too distressed and dismayed by what they had just witnessed. Words could not do justice to their shared experience – yet.

When they reached Joachim and Anna’s home, Mary thanked John for being there with her. Then, somewhat impulsively, she stepped forward and embraced him. She looked up into his surprised eyes through her own tear-filled eyes and said, “Don’t forget, you now have two mothers!” With that she turned quickly towards the door of her parents’ home, stopping to wave goodbye to John who was till staring after her. He then turned and walked away but Mary could not help but note the droop in his shoulders. They were all grieving, and so unexpectedly; it was nothing short of a shock.

Mary’s parents rushed to the door when she arrived. They had already heard the news. They both wrapped her in their arms and they all burst into tears together. Once the floodgates were open, Mary could hardly stop sobbing. She clung to her parents, burying her head in her father’s shoulder. Finally, she pulled herself up and said softly, “I am exhausted; I just want to sleep now. You are probably tired too.”

Her parents understood but they also knew she had probably not eaten. She agreed with that and said she really had no appetite. However, at her parents’ insistence, she had a little to eat before she went to lie down where she slept. They knew Mary was too upset to ply her with questions about what she had seen, what had really happened. They reasoned they could talk about this further when Mary was ready.

Initially, Mary had trouble falling asleep. The awful images of what she had seen kept rolling before her weary eyes. The tears still came, but not like when she had first come to her parents.’ However, eventually her brain succumbed to here fatigue and she did sleep.

The next day seemed to drag on forever. Little was still spoken in the troubled household. They had no heart for going to synagogue or the temple. Was there any point? They uttered prayers, some audible, others not, as they gathered for their Sabbath meals. Again, they ate little. There was no pleasure in it. 

When night fell, they all retired to their beds again. As with the previous eve, Mary did not immediately fall asleep. This time it was not so much the images of yesterday, although they were still present. It was more the questions and thoughts that swirled around in her mind. What were they all to make of all that Jesus had done in his short life? What had been the purpose? What did it mean? Surely, all those messages had not been in vain.  And what had Joseph, the man who let Jesus be buried in his tomb reminded them of – that Jesus had suggested he would rise again if he were killed? Mary was not sure she could even put any energy into believing that and building up some hope. She felt somewhat guilty for not having observed the Sabbath  better, but she was sure she could be forgiven for that. This had indeed been the darkest Sabbath she had ever known. Eventually, she slept again.

The Story of Mary: The Catholic Version IV Death & Beyond - Chapter 26 – After the Crucifixion

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, having heard all that Jesus had spoken from the cross, now saw how he died, Mary heard him say, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” In fact, to the amazement of the women and Jesus other followers standing there, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 

The knot of Jesus’ followers still stood near the cross. It was if they were unable to leave, in spite of the chill in the air, and the fact that it was hours since they had drank or eaten anything. They were beginning to be aware of these things and talk amongst themselves about what they should do. There did not seem to be much purpose to remaining here. Jesus seemed to be gone. Some of the women, notably Mary from Magdala, the other Mary and Joanna said they wanted to stay to see what would happen to the body, “We need to see where they lay him so we can see if there is anything we can do to give Jesus a proper burial,” they said. 

‘Yes,’ Mary thought, ‘if Jesus is really dead, that would be what we need to think about.’ She knew the bodyu would not be allowed to remain on the cross as tomorrow was The Sabbath and it could not be so desecrated by having dead bodies not given their proper burial.

They were discussing these things when they noticed some action behind them. They turned and saw the soldiers picking up some large planks lying there and to their horror, they saw them hit the legs of one of the criminals with all their might! It was all Mary could do to choke back a scream. Was this going to happen to Jesus? Some of the group, having heard stories about other crucifixions said that this was routine. The legs of those crucified were broken to hasten their deaths so they could no longer push themselves up to breath. Particularly today, as  (John) 19:31 “it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not stay on the crosses on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an especially important one).  Mary did not want to see this but she had to watch to see if they would do this to her beloved son too. Was there no end to their cruelty? 

After the soldiers had broken the legs of the other two men hanging there, they went towards Jesus. When Mary saw what was coming, she quickly averted her gaze. She could not bear to see her son attacked any further. 19:33But then she heard them one of them call out, “Cornelius,” which she took to be the centurion’s name, as he responded, “This one is already dead,” she turned back. Immediately she wished she had not because just at that moment 19:34one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out.”

‘Oh,’ Mary thought, ‘I can’t bear to see anymore. And she thought again, ‘But now Jesus is dead? Is this the end of all his dreams? What about all those things the angels told me, what Simeon and Anna said?’

Still, Mary and her friends stayed at the cross. They had to see what would become of their beloved. With all the activity of the last hours lessening, Mary became more aware of her surroundings. She noticed that John had left her side and was embracing another woman and then she saw that it was his mother. He brought her to meet Mary and she tried to console Mary through her own tears. As they stood there together, it was as if the heavens themselves had seen enough, and no longer needed to try to hide the evil done with darkness. The clouds began to dissipate and the sky became bright once again, although that was short-lived, as the darkness of night was fast approaching.

Suddenly a well-dressed man with a retinue of servants arrive on the scene. They were carrying a bundle of linen cloth. They approached the soldiers and unrolled a scroll and showed it to the centurion. Mary wondered what was going on. With the soldiers’ help, the servants took the body of Jesus down from the cross and wrapped it in the linen (Matthew 27:57-60). 

Mary and her friends hurried forward. “Who are you? Where are you taking him,” they asked. The man introduced himself as a certain Joseph, from the nearby village of Arimathea. He said he too was a follower of Jesus, and had asked Pilate for the body, so that he might give it a decent burial. Mary wanted to hug the man, but she knew such a display of emotion was not acceptable. Instead she restrained herself with a sigh of relief and then a silent prayer of thanks. Something was going right. Somebody cared.

“Come with me,” Joseph said, “I have a tomb that was made for me but we can put Jesus there for now. No one has ever used the tomb.” Mary stepped forward and approached him, bowed, and simply said, “I am his mother. Thank you so much. We will follow you.”

The women still there, along with John, went together to a nearby hillside. They watched as Joseph and his attendants gently laid Jesus’ body to rest inside a tomb there. Then his servants began to roll a large stone over the entrance to seal it. Mary Magdalene rushed forward, “Sir,” she pleaded, “Do you have to do that? How can we embalm the body to show our love and respect for this our leader and Lord?”

“I too am his disciple,” Joseph reminded them, ‘but I know that the leaders have been listening to Jesus and heard him talk about rising again. If Jesus will do that, I don’t think a stone will stop the Son of God from showing his power. Others are talking of stealing his body. We don’t want that to happen, do we?”

Mary Magdalene and the others could find no argument against that.  Jesus’ mother could not but help think of how, just days before, Jesus had called his friend Lazarus from just such a grave in Bethany. Now, who was there to call Jesus forth? How could he remain dead when he had raised others? And how could they do with Jesus’ body as they had hoped with that huge stone in front of it? So many questions. They had nothing to do now but wait for answers, as there was little they could do on the Sabbath, already beginning.

Mary was exhausted. When John and his mother suggested she come with them and they would walk with her to her parents, she was too tired to say otherwise. She began to realize she was a little hungry and thirsty too. They tried to get their other friends to come along, but Mary Magdalene and a couple of others insisted they were alright and would stay awhile longer. Mary thanked them all for their support. They embraced and kissed one another and then Mary, John and his mother left.

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version IV Death & Beyond - Chapter 25 - Condemned

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

The Roman Governor Pilate raised his hands to quiet the mob that surged between in front of him. 19:12As if to banish any thoughts of releasing him, Mary heard the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!” 19:13When Pilate heard these words he sat down on the judgment seat. Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king! (John 19:13).”

Mary was awed. Where did Pilate get that idea? What had he been told. Indeed, the angels’ messages to her and Joseph when Jesus was conceived and then born had indicated that was Jesus’ destiny. Her thoughts were quickly overwhelmed though by a roar from the crowd:  

(John 19:15)“Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” 

Then Pilate called out, “Shall I crucify your king?” 

The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” 

Pilate then seemed to be gesturing to a servant nearby and someone then appeared beside Pilate with a basin and as they watched, Pilate washed his hands in it and then turned to the crowd. He raised his hand to try and achieve some silence, with little success, but Mary was close enough to hear, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” 27:25The people in the crowd who had moments before been chanting ‘Crucify him’ now began to follow their religious leaders again in yelling, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”

Then the governor appeared to say something to the soldiers. At that they grabbed Jesus by both arms and took him back out of sight of the crowd. 

The crowd continued to cry for Jesus’ crucifixion, saying also that they would bear the responsibility. Mary looked at the distorted angry faces nearest her. ‘They don’t know what they are doing,’ she thought. They don’t really know who Jesus is.’ She and John and the other followers of Jesus they had met were caught up in the milling crowd and could hardly have made their way through it if they had wanted to leave. They were all numbed by the emotions stirred up by what they had seen happen to their beloved Jesus and really were not going anywhere anyway. Where should they go? What should they do? They looked blankly at one another, really not knowing what to say.

Suddenly, the crowd’s angry chorus swelled and there was a rush towards the side of the palace. Mary knew the reason why as soon as she saw Jesus appear, blood dripping through his clothes and from his face, struggling under the weight of a cross laid over his shoulder. There were two other men also bearing crosses with him. 

“What have they done?” cried Mary. One of the other women leaned in towards her and said, “He has just had a flogging. They always do that before they crucify someone.” 

“He is going to crucified like a common criminal?” Mary cried “How can this be? For what purpose is this happening?”  But no, maybe it was more than that. Pilate had called Jesus their king. Had Jesus said something to convince him that was who he was, or felt destined to be. Then it would be no wonder Pilate would accept having him crucified. Saying you were king was treason, and that was punishable by death. 

She had to believe something positive was about to happen though. It couldn’t all end like this. How could it? What about all those prophecies and messages from the angels? How could they be fulfilled if Jesus was now going to be killed? Jesus could so easily shake all that off and disappear like he had in Nazareth whey had wanted to kill him there. He had the power. Mary knew that. But Jesus was doing no such thing. He shouldered the cross and bravely struggled out to the street. The soldiers were pushing the three men towards the nearest city gate. One concession Rome had made to Judea was not to crucify criminals within the walls of the holy city.  

The crowd surged after the procession and Mary, John and the others were swept along with them. Suddenly Jesus stumbled and fell. Veronica rushed forward, pushing her way through the crowd and began to wipe the blood from Jesus’ face. The soldiers pushed her aside so roughly she almost fell. Some of the other women rushed, weeping to her side. Jesus stopped, looked back at them and found the strength to speak: Luke 23:28“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 23:29For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 23:30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’23:31For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Mary did not entirely understand what Jesus was saying. Some of it sounded foreboding. What was he predicting? At the same time, she got some comfort from hearing that he still had compassion on others, in spite of the predicament he was in. ‘Jesus,’ she thought, ‘You never stop caring about others before yourself.’ 

Meanwhile, the soldiers, looking about, spied a tall, swarthy, well-built man on the side of the street and dragged him out to carry the cross (Mark 15:21) on to their destination. They proceeded to the hill called Golgotha and stopped at its peak (Luke 23:32-33). The soldiers grabbed the three men and held them to the ground as they proceeded to nail them to the cross. Mary covered her ears at the sound of the screams, but sneaking a look at Jesus, she saw that his mouth remained shut; no sound came from him. She saw the soldiers give the men something to drink but Jesus refused it. Then they hoisted the men and the crosses up and dropped them into the holes already there from many previous crucifixions. 

Mary noticed a sign at the top of the cross and wondered what it meant.  As if to answer her question, John turned to her and said, “They have called him ‘The King of the Jews (Mark 15:26).” That sign indicates the reason for his being crucified. ‘So,’ Mary thought, ‘Somewhere Jesus has put out the message of his kingship. But again, what about that if he is now being taken to his death?’ 

Meanwhile, oblivious to the suffering going on above them, the soldiers had taken the victims’ clothing and were clustered at the foot of the crosses, seeming to be playing some kind of game. One of the women turned to the rest and explained, “They’re gambling on who gets Jesus and the others’ clothes (Mark 15:25).” 

‘How low can you get?’ Mary thought. ‘How utterly inhumane. Human beings are dying above your heads and all you can think about is what you will get out of it.’

As time passed, the crowd began to thin somewhat. As some of the throng left though, Mary’s heart was pained again as she heard them make a point of passing below Jesus and mocking him,Mark 15:29shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 15:30save yourself and come down from the cross!” 15:31In the same way, even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – Mary could tell by their dress and demeanour – who were also still there, as if to make sure their victim got what they wanted, - could be heard mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 15:32Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!”

Mary was aghast. How could their religious leaders, the people they were expected to respect and look up to, do and say such things. She was having a hard time believing what she was seeing. What was happening to her world? Part of her wished she had never come. But her mother instinct was strong and she could not bear the thought of leaving her son alone at a time like this. 

As the crowd thinned further the women and Jesus’ young followers - those who were there – inched cautiously closer to the cross upon which Jesus hung. The two men beside Jesus had also spoken out against him (Matthew 27:44). ‘Who are they and what right do they have to say anything,’ Mary thought. Some time later, one of them seemed to have second thoughts. (Luke 23:39)One of the criminals who was hanging there had just called out in desperation, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 23:40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?23:41And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”23:42Then he turned to Jesus, who was hanging between them (Matthew 27:38) and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”23:43And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Mary almost gasped. Jesus still had not forgotten who he was, what message he bore. Even in the midst of his suffering he was continuing to show compassion and offering forgiveness. Just hearing that gave her heart a little lift. As if sensing what was going on in her heart, Jesus suddenly gave a loud cry, “23:34… “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Indeed, thought Mary. Does anyone here today know what they are doing?

But others continued to hurl insults at Jesus from where they stood at a distance, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”Luke 23:36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 23:37and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

It had been around the time of the end of the first morning watch when the crowd had arrived on the hill. Suddenly, when 23:44it was about noon, an ominous darkness came over the scene. It was more than just dark clouds; it seemed that 23:45the sun’s light itself had failed. A chill settled over the hill and Mary and the others pulled their cloaks tighter around them as they stayed, rooted to the ground, unable to tear themselves away from the awful picture playing out before them. 

Suddenly, it seemed that Jesus opened his eyes enough to be aware of who was about him.  19:26Mary saw him look in the direction of her and John in particular, looking like he was trying to focus his eyes on whom he was seeing. Then, as if mustering his last breath of will, his gaze fixed on Mary and he said to his mother, “Woman, look,’ lifting his chin in the direction of John, “here is your son!” 19:27He then turned his eyes towards John and said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” As if in obedience to his master’s dying wish, John moved alongside Mary and put his arm around her as they faced Jesus together. Mary burst into tears again and just buried her head in John’s arms and wept.  ‘Oh my Jesus,’ she thought, ‘What has it come to? Is this how it all ends? What about all those prophecies?’ Somehow, she could not believe there was not going to be more.

By his time, three hours of this dreadful darkness had passed, when (Mark) 15:34Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” In other words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”15:35When some of the bystanders heard it they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to take him down!”

Before they could do anything, (John) 19:28 Jesus cried out again “I am thirsty!” 19:29One of the soldiers put a sponge soaked in something from a jar standing near and on, a branch of hyssop, lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. 19:30Jesus appeared to at least wet his lips with what he had received, after which he cried out with a loud voice, “It is completed! Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Mark) With that his head fell forward 15:37 and he breathed his last.