Mary Magdalene: Witness to the Crucifixion
The next mention we have of Mary Magdalene after Jesus heals her, is of her presence at
the crucifixion.
Luke 23:49 says, “”women who had followed him from Galilee” standing at a distance”, but does not mentioned these women by name. However, the other three gospels do mention these women and among them is Mary Magdalene.
Matthew 27:56, says, “Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”
Notice that Mary Magdalene is mentioned first, giving her the greatest importance.
The women are still devoted to their Savior, even in his time of need. However, John is the only disciple mentioned as being near. All the other disciples have fled.
Mark 15:40 says, “There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.”
John 19:25 says, “Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
This is the only time that Mary Magdalene is not listed first, paying deference to Jesus’ mother and her sister. That is the way it should be.
Many try to say that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, but there is no evidence of that found in the Bible or in history. However, she was clearly special to have been mentioned before the other women, except for Jesus mother and blood kin.
Mary Magdalene had a firsthand view of Jesus hanging on the cross, suffering and dying. We are not told, but she was most likely present at his trials before Pilate and Herod.
Mary Magdalene was close enough to hear Jesus speak as he cried out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” and later “It Is Finished”.
Mary Magdalene was present as Jesus was given vinegar to drink, gave up the spirit and had a spear thrust in to his side.
Mary Magdalene and the women probably huddled around one another providing comfort, as their heart ached in ways they could never imagine possible.
They probably asked hard questions of each other and God, such as “Why?”, “How could this happen?”, “What has the last three years been about” and other similar questions.
While the women stood at the foot of the cross, they knew pain as they’d never known it before. Their Savior was dead. Everything seemed hopeless.
How would you have felt if you had been at the crucifixion?
Pictures courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org
The central role of women in our faith as Christians, cannot be overemphasized.
First, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the only human-being worthy to be trusted by the Holy Trinity to host the Incarnate Word of God (the Second Person of the Holy Trinity). She is also, the only human-being, signatory to the Divine Plan of Salvation. A perfect and model of discipleship, she was entrusted with the custody of the Incarnate Word, and she guarded Him with her life, during the long flight and sojourn in Egypt, and return to Nazareth. She accompanied Him in His Sorrowful Passion and Sacrifice, from His arrest, to burial.
Furthermore, she was there, with John the beloved disciple, Mary Magdalene and Mary the Wife of Cleopas at His crucifixion and burial.
The holy women were witnesses to the Resurrection of the Lord on the Third Day of His burial, and our first account of this great news of salvation was privilege the Lord granted them.
All these and many instances of the great contributions of women to our faith, is instructive. We should expand opportunities for their increased role in modern time, for it is in God’s divine will that they continue to play a major role.
The fact, there were no women among the apostles may be a cultural bias of the time, rather than God not wanting them to play major roles in our faith.
Please keep writing such pieces that highlight major contributions of the women folk in our faith.