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: 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.