“I Have Seen the Lord!”

Mary Magdalene looked up to the sky, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her beloved Lord was hanging on a stake. It was about noon on a spring day, “yet a darkness fell over all the land”! (Luke 23:44, 45) She pulled her garment around her shoulders and huddled closer to the women near her. A solar eclipse, which lasts only minutes, could not have caused this three-hour darkness. Perhaps Mary and the others standing near Jesus began to hear animals of the night that are not commonly heard during the day. Some onlookers “grew very much afraid and said: ‘Certainly this was God’s Son.’” (Matthew 27:54) Jesus’ followers and others might have thought that Jehovah himself was signaling his sadness and displeasure at his Son’s brutal treatment.

Mary Magdalene could hardly bear to watch the scene, but she could not leave either. (John 19:25, 26) Jesus must have been in unimaginable pain. Jesus’ mother also needed comfort and support.

After all that Jesus had done for Mary, she felt compelled to do all that she could for him. She was once a broken and pitiable woman, but Jesus had changed all that. He had filled her life with dignity and purpose. She had become a woman of great faith.

“By the Torture Stake of Jesus”

Mary Magdalene was one of the many women who accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem for the Passover of 33 C.E. (Matthew 27:55, 56) When she heard that Jesus had been arrested and tried during the night, she was surely horrified. And the news got worse. Governor Pontius Pilate, caving in to pressure from the Jewish religious leaders and the crowd under their influence, had sentenced Jesus to a cruel death on a stake. Mary may well have seen her Master, already bloody and exhausted, struggling through the streets, hauling the long pole for his execution.—John 19:6, 12, 15-17.

At the scene of the execution, after darkness had fallen at about midday, Mary Magdalene and the other women were standing “by the torture stake of Jesus.” (John 19:25) Mary, who was there to the end, saw and heard Jesus entrust the care of his mother to his beloved apostle John. She heard Jesus’ agonized cry to his Father. And she heard his triumphant last words, “It has been accomplished,” uttered just before he died. She was in anguish. Nonetheless, after Jesus died, she was evidently still there. Later she remained by the new tomb where a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea placed Jesus’ body.—John 19:30; Matthew 27:45, 46, 57-61.

Mary’s example reminds us of what we can do when our fellow believers face hard trials. We may be unable to prevent tragedy or to take away the pain of the victims. Yet, we can show compassion and courage. The very presence of a supportive friend can make a big difference in hard times. Standing by a friend in need shows great faith and can bring tremendous comfort.—Proverbs 17:17.

“I Will Take Him Away”

After Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb, Mary was among the women who got some additional spices so that they could later apply them to his body. (Mark 16:1, 2; Luke 23:54-56) Then she rose early in the morning after the Sabbath was over. Picture her walking along the darkened streets with other women, heading to Jesus’ tomb. On the way, they wondered how they could roll away the heavy stone that blocked the entrance. (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-3) Yet, they did not turn back. Their faith evidently moved them to do what they could and entrust the rest to Jehovah.