By 
Each year, as I approach the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, my heart resists envisioning the crucifixion scene. Thankfully, God now redirects me to viewing the crucifixion scene from the perspective of the women who attended: Mary the mother of Jesus and her sister, Mary Magdalene, Salome, Mary the wife of Clopas, Joanna, and Susanna*.
Scripture also prepares me with Jesus’ words to His disciples and, most likely, these women, prior to His arrest. “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:21-22 NIV).
Even though elation would ultimately replace their grief, the women’s anguish at the crucifixion demanded full attention and drained their strength. The execution assaulted all their senses. Even though darkness eventually offered relief for their sight, it failed to provide reprieve from the sounds and smells of death. Vile cursing assailed their ears. Even in the shadows, the groans of the crucified assaulted them. The women tried to shield the onslaught but could not, and neither can I as I observe Christ’s suffering.
Then, when it seemed as if the women could bear no more, the very ground they stood on heaved. Matthew records, “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that happened, they were terrified” (Matthew 27:54). Most fled, but the women remained, experiencing confusion, anguish, terror, and abandonment—shrouded in their love for Christ. When I, as a woman, witness the scene of Christ’s death, I, too, feel confusing emotions.
How do you respond to the aversion you experience when viewing Jesus’ bloodied brow and nail-pierced limbs? Helplessness, guilt, anger, misplaced pity, and couldn’t-there-be-some-other-way emotions can detour and distract our hearts. These emotions have the power to keep us from remembering that God will move us beyond them to a fresh, awe-inspiring understanding of His great love and great gift of salvation**.
Each Advent, as I imagine myself standing with the women at the cross***, I remind myself that the pain will pass, just like in childbirth, and the joy of the resurrection will arrive—along with the forgiveness Christ’s death brings to me and to all those who believe.
*Luke 8:2-3; (“Many modern critics are of the opinion that Salome was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, alluded to in John 19:25. Others make the expression ‘His mother’s sister refer to Mary the wife of Clopas,’ immediately following” ((Unger Bible dictionary, 113)). Since no punctuation marks were used in the original authorship, I believe Mary’s sister was a separate person since it would be unusual to name two daughters Mary and Salome is not identified as Mary the mother of Jesus’ sister elsewhere in scripture.)
**Edited excerpts from Women at the Cross, Linda Lesniewski, Revell Publishers, 2005, Grand Rapids, MI, available as a digital book on Amazon. Used with Permission.
***Mark 15:40-41; v.47 (infers they followed from the crucifixion site to the burial site.) Luke 8:1-3, 23:49; 47; 24:10 (infers they had attended the crucifixion); John 19:24-25; Matthew 27:55-56.
Linda Lesniewski
Linda served as Women’s Minister at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX for 24 years. She has authored "A Little Book About Knowing a Big God" for children; "Women at the Cross" and "Connecting Women: A Guide for Leaders in Women’s Ministry", by Revell; as well as "His Story My Story", a digital download available from LifeWay. Linda enjoys spending time with her four young adult children and six granddaughters. She has served on the Womenary Board of Directors for many years.
You can contact Linda at lindalesniewski49@gmail.com. 
