“Mary, Magdalene – A Woman at the Cross” – Mark 15:40-47

One of the most celebrated events in Texas history is the epic stand at the Alamo. We all know the basic aspects of the events.

Tradition tells us that William Travis, commander of the Texans holding the stronghold, drew a line in the sand and gave his troops the chance to stay and fight to the death or to try to escape through the Mexican army that surrounded the church. It is said that Jim Bowie, on his sickbed, asked to be carried across the line, and that all who were fighting for Texas crossed the line, save one person. These men sealed their fate by choosing to remain with Col. Travis and the Alamo.

Part of the glory of the Alamo is the fact that those who defended the place chose to remain. They stayed faithful to the cause and to each other, and for this, we honor those who died in the battle. Some of the names we know, while others are obscure but for the fact that their names are written at the Alamo today.

Loyalty and steadfastness are hallmarks of commitment and friendship. As Jesus’ earthly ministry came to an end, it is interesting to note that of all of those who followed Jesus, only the women remained with Him until the end. And of those women was Mary Magdalene.

Because of their loyalty and steadfastness, these women, alone of all of Jesus’ followers, were able to verify that Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, and that He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

Background

When last we learned about Mary Magdalene, she was identified among a group of women who travelled with Jesus and the male disciples, supporting Jesus’ ministry with their financial backing. There was nothing to indicate that the women played any other role, but it is reasonable to assume that the women could reach out to other women better than the men could, just as the men would be better at reaching other men. Remember this was a culture where women were little more than property, and that the word of a woman was only worth half that of a man’s.

Reading through the Gospels, we learn that Jesus’ ministry lasted for three years and that His travels took Him and His followers throughout the part of the world we would describe as the Middle East, modern day Lebanon and Israel, along with some travels into western Syria.

Throughout these travels, the disciples had gone with Jesus, while there is no mention of the women continuing their travels as well. However, it doesn’t take much conjecture to realize that if Mary Magdalene and the other women were with Jesus at the cross, then it was probable that they had probably been with Jesus throughout His ministry.

Now we see Mary Magdalene once again at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In the Gospel’s account of Jesus’ arrest and trial, only Luke references the women being present at both the arrest and the trial. In Luke 22:49, he wrote, “When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen. . .” (referring to Jesus’ arrest). Had it only been the disciples, it would seem reasonable that Luke would have identified those with Jesus at His arrest as, “When Jesus’ disciples saw what was going to happen . . .”

Again, in describing Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary, Luke wrote, “A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him” (Luke 23:27). Jesus addressed the women who were following Him, which indicates that these were women known to Jesus personally.

Finally, Luke wrote in 23:49, “But all those who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.” From these few verses, it would seem that Mary Magdalene and the other women had travelled with Jesus throughout His ministry.

So we come to today’s passage, in which we see Mary Magdalene at the end of Jesus’ ordeal on the cross. As we look at these verses, we should keep in mind this truth:

Central Truth: Of all those who came with Jesus from Galilee, Mary Magdalene was one of the only ones to stay with Him through His burial.

In our next glimpse of Mary, we see someone who:

1. Was willing to be with Jesus at the cross (40-41)

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him and cared for His needs. Many other women who had come with Him to Jerusalem were there.

When my family was planning on moving to the Waco area, we would travel up to Waco and stay at a hotel until we found work and a place to live. On one of our journeys, as we were on the interstate in Waco, we came upon a horrendous looking accident. We weren’t present when the accident occurred, but we could see from the wreckage that a semi had crashed into and over a vehicle. From the appearance, it didn’t look as if anyone could have survived the wreck. It was something I had hoped the kids didn’t see, and we got off the interstate as quickly as we could. We later found out that the woman in the car had indeed survived the accident, and while we didn’t know the extent of her injuries or whether she recovered fully, we could at least find comfort that she didn’t die.

It’s difficult to witness a horrible thing. Yet, that is what Mary and the other women did.

It’s interesting to me that of all those who had followed Jesus for the three years, only the women remained to watch Jesus be crucified. There are valid reasons why the disciples fled. It was probably likely that if the religious authorities feared a rebellion to free Jesus, then it would be reasonable to believe that the men would lead it. Probably little if any thought was given to the question of the women posing a threat.

So why where the women there at the cross watching Jesus die? It’s possible they thought or hoped that Jesus would be rescued from the cross. They had been with Jesus these three years, and they had witnessed many miracles as a result. For Mary in particular, her healing was a miracle she was personally aware of. It would be reasonable to believe that the man they believed to be the Son of God would have one more miracle up His sleeve. Remember that Jesus’ followers believed the role of Messiah was to throw off the shackles of Roman rule and re-establish David’s throne. It would seem likely that their faith would expect Jesus to be delivered.

It is also likely that they were there to offer moral support to the One they loved. We know that in Texas and other states that allow capital punishment that it is not unusual for family members of the condemned man or woman to be present at the execution, if for no other reason than to let the person know that they are still loved and mattered to someone.

All of this is conjecture. What is certain, what we read from the Bible, is that Jesus was crucified, but that He was not alone when He died. The women who had travelled with Him from Galilee for three years were still standing with Him, even if at a distance. One of those loyal women was Mary Magdalene. She stayed with Jesus until the end.

2. Was willing to be with Jesus as He was taken from the cross (42-46)

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

A person being crucified could survive for days before exhaustion, pain and hunger eventually took their life. There are other reports in the Gospels that the religious leaders asked Pilate to hasten the deaths of the three men being crucified so as not to violate the Passover Sabbath. We know that Pilate ordered the legs of the three men to be broken, preventing them from lifting themselves up to breathe, leading to a quick death by asphyxiation.

Yet, Mark wrote that Pilate was surprised to learn that Jesus had died so quickly. It’s possible that Joseph of Arimathea had come with the delegation to request the quicker deaths and then stayed behind to request Jesus’ body. Upon hearing Joseph’s request, Pilate immediately called for confirmation of Jesus’ death. The centurion, someone who had witnessed death many times, confirmed Jesus’ death to Pilate, and Pilate agreed to release the body to Joseph.

This act of kindness went against the normal practice of crucified people. The practice was to leave the body on the cross for several days after death had occurred. Afterward, the body would be dumped in an unmarked grave.

Jesus’ body was taken and quickly prepared for burial. The time was short as the day was almost at an end and Sabbath was rapidly approaching. Joseph did what he could with the constraint of time, wrapping Jesus’ body in the linen and placing it in his personal tomb.

While all this was taking place, the women witnessed it all. They saw the body being taken down and transported to the grave. They saw that the body was only partially prepared for a traditional burial. Knowing this, they knew they would have to return to properly anoint the body of Jesus.

Two things are significant in the fact that Mary Magdalene and the other women witnessed this. For one thing, they watched Jesus die, and they alone could confirm to the others that Jesus was dead. This comes into play in the next time we see Mary Magdalene.

For another thing, because they followed Jesus’ body to the gravesite, they knew that He had been buried and they knew where He had been buried. This, too, has significance later on.

3. Stayed with Jesus after His burial (47)

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

It’s interesting to see how quickly things change once an event is over. In a crowded theater, people start to leave as soon as the credits begin to roll. People will leave the stadium before the final gun of the game if they’re team is losing. By the time we get to this verse, the other women have left. Only the two Marys remain.

Their grief must have been intense, yet they stayed with Jesus as He was buried. They watched as the body was placed in the tomb, and they watched as the stone was rolled over the entrance. The Bible doesn’t say how long afterward that the two women remained at the tomb, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to believe they tarried a little longer, not ready to say goodbye not only to Jesus but to the hopes and dreams He had inspired in them.

This was a sign of Mary Magdalene’s loyalty and faithfulness. After all Jesus had done for her, she was not prepared to abandon Him even after she watched Him be interred.

Conclusion

I have been to many funerals over the years. I’ve seen the funeral directors prepare the grave and prepare for the removal of the casket from the church to the gravesite. Yet, in all these years, I have yet to see a body lowered into the grave. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a family stay until the casket is lowered. There is a finality in that action. To watch one’s loved one lowered into the ground, then to see the soil cover the casket and the loved one within must bring a finality to it all.

Mary Magdalene had been with Jesus for most of His ministry. Now she had watched Him die, and had seen His body entombed. We have no description of what she was thinking or feeling, but we can have a good idea, based on our own experiences.

What we do know is that Mary was faithful until the end and beyond. And that is what Jesus expects of us all. To be faithful and to remain faithful even when it seems hardest.

We can learn from Mary Magdalene, and we can follow her example of faith and loyalty.