Mary Magdalene SCENE 8
Updated: Nov 11, 2022
ACT: Mary does not leave Jesus. The others leave. She stays.
She could not leave Jesus. She stayed praying til the very end. She heard His words to the thief and thought He might yet save Himself. She saw and felt the terrible thick darkness, as though God had forsaken the earth. With heart thudding she heard His desperate cry, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? And she wondered the same. What could she do? Jesus was thirsty but the soldier would not allow anyone to bring to Him more than vinegar on a sponge. He refused after tasting it. Then there was a great earthquake! Many around her left the scene for safety. Mary cared not that she lived or died.
Finally, she watched as Jesus with His last human strength cried out, “It is finished!” With that He took His last breath committing His Spirit to God! What was finished? What did it mean? There seemed nothing to live for now.
ACT: Mary collapses at the foot of the cross.
She collapsed in grief at the foot of the cross. She was there when Joseph came to get the body of Jesus. In numbness and unbelief she watched as he carefully took it down, and wrapped it in linen. Then she followed to see how he laid Jesus’ body in a brand new hewn sepulchre. How good of Joseph to think of this. It was the preparation day and Sabbath drew on so she and the other women who followed Jesus returned, and in utter grief prepared spices and ointments; they would rest the Sabbath day according to the commandment. It was fitting that Jesus died in time to be buried before Sabbath. Sleep on sweet Jesus. Rest now from your trials and suffering.
Author: Sharon Oxentenko