Mary's Passion

Last night, Good Friday, after the baby was in bed, I was alone at home and chose to put myself through the gut-wrenching process of watching Mel Gibson's, "The Passion".
For the discounted price of $4.99 from a department store, I could watch actors and actresses portray the gruesome reality of the suffering and crucifixion of my beloved Savior.
I had intentinally set aside this time for this purpose.
This time; I was not in a theatre surrounded by others.
This time; I was alone... and could weep openly and loudly without fear of being a distraction.
And I did.

Again, I was struck with the horrific depth of pain, cruelty and emotional turmoil that Jesus willingly but completely humanly, endured.

I was also reminded again of the role of His mother, Mary, and the other women of the Cross.

It has been said before, but I reiterate because it just is so incredible to me.... that if anyone could have done something to put an end to the crucifixion of Jesus; it was His mother.

There is no record in the Bible that she in any way tried to stop the process.
The Sword that pierced her heart; as prophesied at His presentation in the temple as an infant; found it's tender mark that day at Golgotha.
She alone KNEW that He WAS a miracle.
A Son of God. A Holy conception.
She would have had Joseph to vouch for her character, but he had died at some earlier point in time... so the only defense left her was her own integrity and character and never-wavering belief in this TRUTH.

Watching Him be tortured, and mocked...how her heart was torn and bruised as though it were her own body being mutilated.
This was flesh of her flesh. Heart of her heart.
But, for such a time as this. She knew.
She could have claimed he was insane, delusional.
She could have; as any mother would have; in that moment denounced her lie that she had been a virgin in order to plead mercy for His life.

But; she knew the truth.
HE was the TRUTH, the WAY, the LIFE... the Son of God!
And she could no more step in the way of this inevitable unfolding of salvation than she could have 30 some years earlier and refused the Overshadowing.
For such a time...
She was His handmaiden then and remained His servant now in this fulfilment of the prophecies.
Her heart still pure, still teachable, still humble.
Now broken. Pierced.
She knew.
And she rejoiced in the knowledge that He would make all things new.

Oh, Jesus... may my heart be one that is purified, teachable, ready to be used by You, as your mother's was.
May I have a heart like Mary's.