Women At The Cross (So Many Marys!)
21 Mar 2022Little Devotionals (Ann)
“Women of the Bible” series by Ann Little
Scripture: Matthew 27:55-61, Mark 15:40-47, Luke 23:49-56, John 19:25-27
All four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record the women at the cross of Jesus. We don’t know how many women were there, but Matthew says “many women.”
Scripture: Matthew 27:55-61, Mark 15:40-47, Luke 23:49-56, John 19:25-27
All four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record the women at the cross of Jesus. We don’t know how many women were there, but Matthew says “many women.”
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Only a few of them are named. These women were from Galilee in the north, where Jesus grew up and where he did quite a bit of his ministry. Some of these women were related. Some were wealthy because they financially supported Jesus and looked after his needs. They had left home and traveled (walked?) 126 km (79 mi) to Jerusalem, to be with Jesus. And they stayed with him until the end.
Why so many Marys? Mary was a very popular name and the Old Testament equivalent is Miriam (Moses’ sister). It meant “bitter,” not a very pretty meaning. Jewish parents under the Roman rule may have felt that their lives were bitter and named their baby girls accordingly. Certainly each Mary who stood at the cross experienced bitterness as they watched Jesus die.
Only the Gospel of John records the tender exchange between Jesus on the cross and John, entrusting him with the care of his mother. In his dying moments, he thought of his dear mother. The words of the prophet, Simeon, who at Jesus’ temple dedication said to her “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35) certainly came to pass here. When we see Mary standing by John at the foot of the cross, watching her son being pierced with a sword, we understand the meaning of this prophecy (John 19:25). John took Mary into his own home and took care of her. Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him at the time, so Mary was probably more comfortable with John rather than with one of her own sons.
As you read through the scriptures (listed above) this Easter, stand with these women and feel their sorrow.
And to see him suffer so much must have been more than they could bear. We now know why Jesus died, but they did not. He was saying, through his death, “I love you.” But they did not understand this. Yet they stayed until the very end to watch his dying moments, witness and take note where his body was buried. They were planning their last loving good-bye for Jesus: anointing his dead body with spices and perfumes for burial.How much they loved Jesus!
They have no idea what is coming…EASTER!