The Cross of glory

John 18: 1 - 19: 42

...he said, "It is finished"...then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit

I am glad that the "Gospel of John" depicts a woman among the disciples who were with Jesus as he made his way along his last journey. Even when he prays for them, there is a woman there and he lays his hand upon her head as well. The gospel material does not specifically mention women disciples around until later but I am sure there must have been women who stayed devotedly till the end. They had followed Jesus from the time in Galilee, faithfully serving and playing a most important supportive role.

My Lent reading "The wounds of Jesus" has reflections at the end of each chapter and one of them asks readers to place themselves at the scene of John 19: 31 - 37. I found myself there, with the other women, feeling a sense of relief when I realized that Jesus had died...at last his great suffering was over. But as the spear was thrust into his side, I felt a horror and could not bear to watch. Thankfully, they did not further abuse his already badly scarred body. As a woman, I could not do anything or stop the cruelty. I could just be there, holding (as I would believe the women would have done) my Lord in my heart. "Being with" another in their pain and suffering is a grace. Perhaps it is a kind of compassion that grows in us as we allow ourselves to enter into the sufferings of our Lord.

Today I am listening to some songs that remind me of the horror and yet triumph of the Cross.

"Let us kneel in homage at the cross of Christ

Where we see God's human face

We behold the maker of the sun and stars

As he hangs on the throne of grace

As we share in his pain, his sorrow and shame

Our hearts will be tested in fire.

Let us ever glory in the cross of Christ

And the triumph of God's great love"

(Dan Schutte)