Mary Magdalene SCENE 7

It was very early in the morning on the sixth day of Passover week when Mary heard the knock at their door. Two of Jesus disciples had come. She got up to see what was going on. They were shaking and speaking in hushed tones to Lazarus! Lazarus turned to his sisters, his face white with shock. The Sanhedrin had taken Jesus and accused Him of blasphemy. In the middle of the night they had sentenced Him to die. Even now He was being taken to Pilate’s court where they intended to accuse Him of sedition against Rome. Jesus had not resisted. He had already been twice beaten 40 lashes.

ACT: Mary, Martha, Lazarus hurry to the scene of the cross. They are heart broken.

Mary and Martha and Lazarus hurried to Jerusalem. Surely, Jesus would save Himself! Mary’s mind was racing! How could she help her Friend?

That morning she prayed and listened even with hope as Pilate found Jesus innocent. But the people were as though demon possessed. Pilate in an effort to calm them suggested he release a prisoner to them as the governor often did for Passover. But the people in uncontrolled mob rage, influenced by the priests and rulers chose to have Barrabas, a real murderer and thief, released to them rather than Jesus. They even said, “we have no king but Cesar” after Pilate had called Jesus the King of the Jews.

In all this Jesus acted like a lamb to the slaughter who before his shearers is dumb. The only prayer she heard from His lips was so like Him!  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Now heart breaking and tears streaming down her face, Mary stood at the foot of the cross looking up at her suffering, crucified Friend and Savior. Her Savior, all knowing, all powerful when needed to save others, seemed powerless now. Why? Mary asked herself. Surely this was the Son of God. What had Jesus said? No greater love hath any man than this, that He should die for His friends. Was Jesus doing this for her, for the others? Oh God, I should have been the one to die!

Author: Sharon Oxentenko