Near to the cross

If we were at the scene when Jesus was crucified, how close we want to be around the cross of Jesus? At that time there were 4 people close to his cross, and this is the meaning of the proximity to the cross for them.

1. Mary Magdalene - the Cross as a place of Redemption

Jesus released Mary Magdalene from the 7 evil spirits (Luke 8:2). Like a person who is bound by the power of darkness, she was in a very pathetic condition. But once she was released, she was released from the darkness and the power of the devil, receive forgiveness and be able to enjoy the blessings in her life extraordinary. But to give it all to Mary Magdalene, Jesus had to experience suffering and death on the cross. Thats what Mary pondered while he was near the cross of Christ.

2. Salome - The cross as a place to receive education and reprimand

Salome is the mother of James and John (Matthew 20:20-23) who demanded that Jesus would allow her two children to be seated on the right and left His throne. What Salome was asking was a selfish request, because she did not know that to receive the glory, man must walk on suffering. That is why Jesus said, You do not know what you want. Can you drink the cup that I suppose to drink? When she saw the cross, Salome had a very valuable lesson that to receive the glory, a person must first walk on suffering, like what Jesus had done as an example for us. Are we ready to suffer for Christ?

3. Mary, the mother of Jesus - the Cross as a place to receive a reward.

Like what Gabriel said in Luke 2:35 that the sword would penetrate Marys soul, she experienced so much suffering. From then, she had to bear child before she got married, fled to Egypt with baby Jesus, and she had to see the suffering of his beloved son when he was dying on the cross. On the cross, Jesus gave the award to Mary when He said, Woman, behold your son, and then said to John in order to keep her as his own mother (John 19: 25-27). God rewards those who suffer for Him. The cross is the place where Mary received his reward.

4. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved - the cross as a responsibility

For John, the cross is not a comfortable place for him to stand. It takes big heart for John to go back there, because previously he had run away from Jesus with the other disciples. But he returned again to the cross, was restored and forgiven there. Jesus, then gave the responsibility for John to keep his mother Mary, and ordered to continue work on this earth. As believers, we do not have to be hesitate to go back to the cross, despite how much our fault. And like John, we also need to reflect on the cross as our responsibility to preach the salvation for many people who do not believe it.

At around the cross - thats where God wants us to be. What is the cross for you? Being close to the cross speaks of a personal relationship with Jesus. He longs that four things happened to His four closest people happen to us. Let us ponder the meaning of the cross over again in our lives.