Intro:

Finished.  Before the cross, we all stand and look, irrespective of our age, ethnicity, or nationality. We join John and those standing with Him: “. . . standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:24d-25).

Why such brutality?  Why did Jesus have to die?  Soldiers divided his garments, cast lots for his tunic.  It’s hard to sit and contemplate the cross, because we see our human capacity for evil – the ugliness of our sin. We are levelled.

Why was Mary Magdalene standing there?  She was a follower of Jesus.  As Jesus travelled through towns and villages, a community of disciples journeyed with him. Luke 8:1b-2 And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.

Mary Magdalene was bound when Jesus found her, tormented spiritually, mentally emotionally.  Jesus healed her. Set her free!

Jesus gave her life back to her, so she followed him.  Together with others, she supported him. To Jesus, she was devoted.