R. Erisman
These are forceful words, to be sure, which reach into the inner recesses of the heart as they search for the answer to the question that has been raised. It was Jeremiah the prophet who first uttered them some 2500 years ago. They seem to have been focused on a tumultuous gathering of people outside the city of Jerusalem around A. D. 30.
There are many people seen here that are coming and going, passing by in the busy pursuit of life's daily routines. There are children playing and calling one to another. There are women going to the market or perhaps on their way to draw water. There are businessmen discussing the business of buying and selling of merchandise. There are religious leaders talking excitedly of the events of the past several days. There are many soldiers going about their appointed tasks. And there are little centers of curiosity-seekers lounging on the grassy slopes waiting to see what would happen next.
Indeed, something was about to happen, for this day was the appointed day of a public execution. Three crosses had been erected, and on these, three men were seen with huge nails holding them fast. Not much attention is given to the two men on the left hand and the right hand. They were notorious criminals, and no doubt most everyone thought they were getting what they deserved.
The man on the center cross, however, was receiving very much attention. There were those who thought He had deceived the people, that He wanted to abolish the religious customs of their nation. Others said, But don't forget He cured many that were sick and infirm. That was countered with the charge that His blood was on them and on their children. One spoke up and said, He restored the sight of a man born blind, and surely if He were not of God He could do nothing like that. And so there was a division among the people.
As the morning hours slipped away, it seemed the antagonists were gaining the upper hand. They jeered, they mocked, they spat, they smote, they mistreated Him with thorns and briars. Those who knew of a truth that this was the very Son of God could seemingly do nothing more than smite their breasts in utter helplessness. Perhaps they called to mind the prophet Isaiah's words: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not" (Isa. 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)). And they may have remembered the words of one of their own who had said earlier, "Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?”
Mary, the Lord's mother, was at the scene too. How could she stay away? She had a true mother's heart for her firstborn Son. No doubt she recalled the words of Simeon in those days of euphoria when Jesus was born. Simeon, an old man had said, "This child is set... for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Was this, what she was witnessing, what he had meant?
Standing with Mary, the Lord's mother, was another Mary, Mary Magdalene. Not too much is known of this Mary, except that the Lord in His early ministry had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:22And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, (Luke 8:2)). Because of this act of kindness and compassion, Mary's heart was greatly attracted to Him. She often ministered to Him when He was in Galilee (Mark 15:4141(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. (Mark 15:41)).
And now a curtain of darkness falls on the scene. Man is permitted to go no further in venting his anger against heaven's beloved One. Those that remained in the vicinity could not see with the eye, but they could hear with the ear. Piercing the darkness was a heart-rending cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" And later, "It is finished." The work of salvation had been completed by the death of the sinless, spotless Son of God, the Lamb of God's own choosing.
From that moment until the present time, the words of Jeremiah's lamentation have particular meaning: "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" Many at the crucifixion scene would say it meant nothing to them. They went their way to their homes and resumed their usual activities. Not so Mary Magdalene. She waited nearby to behold where He was laid (Mark 15:4747And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. (Mark 15:47)). Already a plan was forming in her mind as to how she might show one more act of kindness to the One who had showed kindness to her. She bided her time, and when the Sabbath was past, very early in the morning she came to the sepulcher with sweet spices to anoint the body of Jesus (Mark 16:1-21And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (Mark 16:1‑2)).
There on that resurrection morning she found the tomb empty. This was too much for Mary, and she ran to find Peter and John in the hope that they might provide some answers for her in her great perplexity. Peter and John verified the fact that the tomb was empty, and then went their way to their home, leaving the empty tomb and Mary standing by it, stricken with grief. Peter, can this be—"is it nothing to you?" With the events of the last several days, can you go home at such a time as this? This was far from Mary's thoughts. She stood at the tomb weeping, her actions clearly giving answer to Jeremiah's question. Her tears and aching heart speak louder than words, "It is everything to me." He was altogether lovely in her eyes.
With the departure of Peter and John, however, she must continue her search by herself. This led to the remarkable revelation of Jesus to her, a greater honor and privilege than that accorded to any of the disciples. She heard from the Savior's own lips her name spoken once again in tones of tenderness and love (John 20:1616Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16)). At last her aching heart could rest, knowing that her true Friend and Benefactor was alive forevermore.
How is it with His saints in this our day? When we come together to remember Him in death each Lord's Day, do we hear Jeremiah's burden, "Is it nothing to you?" Do we enter into His presence as a matter of routine? Are we there in the conscious realization that we have been freed from Satan's bondage, just as completely as Mary Magdalene was? Would not our praise and worship reach a higher plateau if we had the sense of love and appreciation that Mary Magdalene had? May we proclaim with her, "It is everything to me." "He is altogether lovely."
No man ever lost anything in God’s work
By humbling himself,
Or by dealing gently with a brother