Mary Magdalene: Witness to the Crucifixion

The next mention we have of Mary Magdalene after Jesus heals her, is of her presence at

Mary Magdalene was a faithful follower of Jesus

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 watching from a distance

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.

Women gathered at the crucifixion

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, the Mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were two of the women at the crucifixion

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?

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