We’ve all been affected by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Chances are we’ve spent time meditating on the suffering He experienced for our sake. Perhaps we have looked to His example to help us withstand ridicule or rejection in our own lives. But rarely do we consider how Jesus’ death on the cross affected those closest to Him.
Mary experienced her son’s sacrifice firsthand. She stood watch as her oldest child died a slow, shameful death. Crucifixion was a death penalty reserved for criminals, and the shame of seeing Jesus pierced on the cross would surely have pierced Mary’s own soul, just as Simeon had predicted (Luke 2:35). Mary, who had been devoted to God’s plan since she was young, already recognized that God’s mission for Jesus meant she would have to let Him go. Now, God’s plan required her to watch Him die.