Walking With Mary (Part 3)

 

    The shouting of the crowd gathered before Pilate was deafening. "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"  John watched the crowd and kept Mary protected.  It was unsafe here, but he couldn't convince Mary to leave.  Her face, a canvas of distress and tears, searched for Jesus while her lips moved with prayers only God could hear.

  Suddenly, the crowd cheered with delight. Pilate was handing Jesus over to be crucified. John ushered Mary and the other woman away from this maddening crowd. John feared for all their lives. None of this was making any sense.  How could this be happening? John led the group to a deserted side street.

  Mary's grip on John's arm tightened, her voice quivering with determination, "John, I can't leave Him.  I have to be there for Him." John saw the depth of her sorrow in her eyes.  Her plea was filled with a desperate need,  and John met her gaze. "Please, John, help me get near him."

  "Mary, it really isn't safe for you to be in that crowd." It wasn't safe, but John, like Mary, would not desert Jesus. Suddenly, an idea came to John.  "Mary, follow me.  I will do my best to get you near Jesus before he gets to Golgotha."

  Mary nodded.  John led them down a few side streets and around a building.  As Mary rounded the building, she saw Him, her precious son, carrying His own cross.  His face was almost unrecognizable.  Blood was everywhere!  What was on His head?  Are those thorns?  "Heavenly Father, please aid Him in this suffering."

  Jesus was put a few steps away when he collapsed under the weight of the cross.  He fell down hard.  Instinctively, Mary lunged forward to be at his side.  Jesus lifted up His head to meet Mary's gaze.  No audible words were spoken, but their hearts joined in prayer to the Father. Then, suddenly, the soldiers were pushing Mary away and forcing Jesus to get up.

  John grabbed Mary as she was pushed into the crowd. He pulled her to safety as Jesus struggled to stand again. Mary looked into John's eyes and murmured, "He's in so much pain.  So much pain." 

  Mary allowed John to lead her out of the screaming mobs of people.  Her head was spinning, and an overwhelming nausea engulfed her.  Mary knew her legs were moving, but she could not feel them.  Every prayer she uttered to the Father was in obedience to His Will, but it broke her heart as they were said. Her precious, beautiful son had been beaten badly, and what was to come next would be even worse.

  Her words physically hurt her as she said, "John, I need to be there. I need to be at Golgotha."

-Susan