Darkness invaded Golgotha and also invaded the soul. Dismay and pain warred in Mary of Nazareth’s heart as she watched her son’s agony. How heart-rending and unnatural it is for a mother to watch her child die. The contemplation of the horrendous spectacle—her Son being mistreated, tortured, and insulted on the road to Golgotha and during the endless hours of His agony on the cross—was like a sword piercing her soul (see Luke 2:35).
Then the dying Savior spoke. Concerned for the safety and sustenance of the woman who conceived and loved Him, “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26, 27).
For anyone who believes in the blessed hope of the resurrection, death is a vanquished foe, but it is still a crushing blow to anyone who has a loved one die. Death is a thief of humanity that entered history hiding behind the diabolical promise of immortality (see Genesis 3:4).
The company of friends
Joseph of Arimathea was granted permission to bury the Savior’s body in his tomb, but it was scant consolation amid the devastation, a small comfort to Mary’s heart. A few women accompanied the grieving mother, a small group that wept while they comforted each other. This same attitude should characterize those who accompany people who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Christians have a duty to spend time with those who suffer, to “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
Overcome with grief, they left the lifeless body of the Master in the cold stone tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, which was sealed by a stone moved by the Roman forces (see Matthew 27:57–66). Friday’s sunset was approaching, and the holy Sabbath began. Motivated by love and a spirit of obedience, Mary and her companions resolutely kept the commandment of the law (Luke 23:56; Exodus 20:8).
God’s comfort
Those hours of crushing disappointment could be overcome only by the joy of victory. Life could not be eclipsed by death nor good by evil. At dawn on the third day, the voice of God called forth the One “desired by all nations” (Haggai 2:7). Mighty angels descended from heaven, and at their appearance, the Roman soldiers stationed around the tomb fell as dead men, for humanity cannot withstand the presence of divinity.
Then the One who paid His life for our sins came forth, victorious over death. By His resurrection, Christ guarantees our Christian life (see 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16) and ensures our resurrection on the last day.
This is our hope in the face of death: On the glorious morning of His second coming, Christ will raise those who are sleeping in the grave. Gone will be the marks of sickness and old age; they will burst out with the freshness of health and eternal youth.
Those of us who, like Mary, have lost a loved one can mourn, but the hope of the resurrection sustains us. When someone we know is suffering such a loss, let us accompany them by offering comfort and help, like John at Mary’s side.
The author is a doctor in Family Education. He writes from Seattle, Washington.
