“But how could this be! How can I survive these predicaments? Joseph died and left me with the kids to take care of all alone. And now, my only Son, who has been so helpful and comforting to me in my widowhood, is also arrested to be killed? Am I to live in this world alone?
I can’t believe this news, but what has He done? I must rush to Jerusalem immediately…”
Mary struggled to sleep the whole night, tossing from side to side as she battled her thoughts, soaked her pillows with tears, and shivered with fear. The prophecies of Simeon, Anna, and Gabriel played out before her eyes. She was alone and friendless. Leaving Nazareth on Friday dawn, she quickly traveled to Jerusalem to see for herself what she was hearing…
But it was too late. Her only Son, and confidant, was being rushed to Golgotha. His disciples had scattered and she could hardly find any to ask what was wrong. Being the season of the Passover, Jerusalem was crowded and the whole city was stirred by the events of the day. Thousands lined the streets to see the Rabbi carry His cross to Calvary.
Mary couldn’t push through the crowd to even help her Son. She rushed helplessly towards Calvary. She knew no one to even seek for help from. She knew no Pharisee, Priest, Levite, Lawyer, or Rabbi with whom she could plead for her Son. She was alone, confused, dazed, poor, and unknown.
At Calvary, she beheld her Son tortured with stripes, bruised by thorns, beaten like a thief, stripped naked, and nailed to a cross! He was bleeding profusely between criminals and cursed by the people around him. The insults and taunts from the crowd towards her Son cut her heart to the core! Oh for words to describe the emotions of a sorrowing mother! Stunned with disbelief she was. Her eyes were blinded with tears. There was nothing she could do.
Looking down at her mum and perfectly understanding the situation, Jesus told John, “Behold your mother, mother, behold your son”. He left her in the care of His best disciple. For He was all that she had. Oh Mary, widowed and bereaved of her only Son, friendless and poor. Oh that I could describe her situation as she stood below the cross. As her world slipped away into darkness.
It was a Friday, the preparation day, and the Sabbath was approaching. Taking down the dead body of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and the other disciples wrapped Him with spices in white linen and sent Him into a new tomb🪨…to rest through the Sabbath and resurrect on the 1st day (Sunday). As we also enter the Sabbath, let’s ponder over the suffering of Christ with Mary at Calvary.
