Jesus alone on the Cross

From The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by J-J Tissot (1897)

Jesus alone on the Cross

The day which has been so crowded with events is drawing to a close; the spectators have left Calvary and the two thieves have already been taken away.  This was quickly accomplished, for all that was needed was to undo the ropes which kept the bodies in place, to fling those bodies into some hole nearby and then to cover them over with stones, of which there were plenty about.  In the case of Jesus, a special request had been made and the orders of Pilate were being awaited.  It was Joseph of Arimathæa, according to Saint Mark "an honorable councillor", that is to say a member of the great Council or Sanhedrim, who had gone to crave the body of the Master.  

During this pause, Saint John and Mary Salome went into the town to collect all that was needed for the performance of the last melancholy offices for the sacred remains and for burying them in accordance with the usual rites.  Already finding the place deserted, and attracted by the smell of blood, the dogs, which swarm in the Eastern towns, are prowling about Calvary.  They run to and fro sniffing for the bodies of the thieves, whilst in the air above hovered eagles and vultures, weaving slowly round, ready in their turn to pounce upon the quarry.  We all know how a certain mother of olden times defended the crucified bodies of her sons against the attacks of wolves and eagles.

The Mother of Jesus, who still stands, and Mary Magdalen who has fainted away, at the foot of the Cross, can neither of them leave.  Even if they could believe Him to be dead they could not tear themselves away from the spot, but feel as if they must remain there for ever.  Absolute silence reigns around Golgotha; a thousand reasons keeping the crowds away from it and even preventing isolated passers-by from approaching.  To begin with, the Sabbath is close at hand; it commences at sunset, after which all Jews will be occupied and absorbed with the ceremonies of the Passover.  Moreover, dead bodies are looked upon as impure, and everyone would avoid being near them on the eve of so solemn a feast.  Lastly, and above all, the extraordinary events which occurred on Calvary but a few hours previously have led to the spot been dreaded, and all the spectators have fled from it; a few belated travellers at the most glide rapidly along the walls of rough stone, their furtive steps seeming rather to intensify than to disturb the loneliness of the scene.  Truly gloomy is the appearance of Calvary!

Two empty crosses stand out against the sky, whilst the third still bears the body of the divine Victim, rigid in the immobility of death.  At His feet are two silent women and all around Him is the desert.  The darkness is gradually dispersed and the weather is brightening somewhat, but still looks threatening.  A pale sun lights up the Mount of Olives, at the foot of which is the town, knowing all the ferment of excitement usual at the time of the great feasts.  The air is laden with a penetrating perfume, it is the scent of the incense, of which large quantities are being burned in the Temple.  At regular intervals the sound of trumpets rings out, now in short, now in long drawn-out blasts, summoning the worshippers to the evening ceremonies and regulating the order in which successive groups are allowed to enter the Temple.  Mary and the Magdalen remain motionless, utterly absorbed in their grief.  Whatever the left to do but to wait?  In any case, however, they could not leave the Lord.  When Jesus was deserted by all others, these two women were ever true to him.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam