Silent Witnesses of Jesus Walking the Path of Suffering

Many women followed Jesus from Galilee to the hill of Golgotha,

a path known as the "Way of Sorrows" (Latin: Via Dolorosa),

which is approximately 1.2 km (0.7 miles) long.

They watched from a distance as Jesus

cried out loudly from the cross and breathed His last.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,

and the wife of Zebedee (Matthew 27:50, 55-56).

These women helped provide for the needs of the disciples and Jesus

with their own resources and followed Jesus

to hear the gospel of the kingdom (Luke 8:2-3).

Truly, their devoted efforts and love for Jesus were such that

they were willing to face death.

True, complete love is the way to overcome fear

(1 John 4:18).

When Jesus was arrested, the disciples,

who had promised to follow Him even to death, all fled

(Matthew 26:57), and even Peter, who had claimed

to be the most zealous, denied Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75).

Amid all this, the women who had supported Jesus’ needs

during His ministry in Galilee remained faithful,

accompanying Him on His final journey to Jerusalem.

They overcame all their fear with perfect love

and watched His agonizing final moments with hearts full of grief.

Indeed, these women were hidden servants of Jesus,

silent witnesses to His life and death.

(Hokema).