Bible in a Year - Women’s Thematic Reading Plan | Day 79

Day 79 of the Women’s Bible Plan: Read John 19:25-27 and reflect on Mary Magdalene standing near the cross of Jesus. Through her faithful presence in the place of suffering, this devotional helps women consider what it means to follow the Lord not only in moments of healing and joy, but also in seasons of pain, helplessness, and unanswered questions. 

🌸  Dear Sister, welcome to Day 79 of our reading journey. 

Following the Lord is not only following Him when we see miracles, hear powerful teaching, or experience healing. Following the Lord also means remaining near Him at the cross, in tears, and in moments when we cannot yet see the answer.

John Chapter 19 brings us to a deeply sorrowful scene: Jesus is nailed to the cross. Many mock Him. Soldiers divide His garments. Many of His disciples have scattered in fear. Yet near the cross, several women remain standing. They cannot stop the Roman soldiers. They cannot change the decision of the religious leaders. They may not yet fully understand the mystery of redemption unfolding before them. But they can do one thing: stay near the Lord.

Mary Magdalene is among them. She had been delivered and received by the Lord, and now, when the Lord suffers, she does not run far away. Her standing there is not a dramatic public act, but it is a deep witness of faithfulness. She reminds us that sometimes love cannot immediately solve the pain, but it can remain present in the place of deepest sorrow.

A Minute of Grace

John 19:25-27 tells us that standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. At the very moment when Jesus was suffering, rejected, and crucified, these women did not leave. They stood near Him.

Mary Magdalene is an important woman in the Gospels. She had been delivered, healed, and received by Jesus. She followed Him and ministered to Him. Now, at the cross, she does not remain only in the memory of past grace. When the Lord is suffering, humiliated, and when all visible hope seems broken, she is still there.

This passage does not record Mary Magdalene speaking any words. She gives no long prayer, no public declaration, and she has no power to change what is happening before her eyes. Yet her presence itself is a form of faithfulness. By standing near the cross, she shows us that true discipleship does not only follow the Lord to places of glory, but is also willing to follow Him to places of suffering.

This is a deep reminder for us today. We often hope that faith will bring immediate comfort, clear answers, and visible change. But there are seasons when God does not remove the pain right away and does not explain everything immediately. In those moments, what we can do may not be to control the situation, but to keep drawing near to the Lord; not to understand everything at once, but to keep trusting; not to flee from sorrow, but to learn faithfulness beside the cross.

Today’s theme, “Mary Magdalene: Beside the Cross,” invites us to reflect: When faith leads us into places of pain, silence, and mystery, are we still willing to follow? When someone we love is suffering, when prayer has not yet been answered, or when life feels broken, will we remain before the Lord instead of allowing disappointment to push us away?

Whispers for the Heart

1 Mary Magdalene stood near the cross and witnessed the suffering of the Lord Jesus. Have you ever walked through moments when you could not understand what God was doing? In those moments, are you more likely to distance yourself from God, or to draw near to Him with tears?

2 This passage does not record Mary Magdalene speaking, but it records that she was there. Are there situations in your life where you do not need to give answers, explain everything, or solve the problem immediately, but simply need to accompany faithfully, watch quietly, and continue standing?

3 Following beside the cross means not leaving even in pain. Are you now facing a season that requires patience and faithfulness? Is God inviting you not to leave the lessons of the cross simply because you cannot yet see the hope of resurrection?

As you read John 19:25-27 today, do not only see the pain of the cross. Also notice the women who stood near the Lord. Their faithfulness reminds us that when we cannot do many things, we can still choose not to leave Him.

Take a quiet breath before you begin. Bring your pain, helplessness, questions, disappointment, and still-desiring heart before the Lord, and let His Word meet you there.

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John 19:25-27 (KJV) 

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

💡 Closing Thought · Faithfulness Beside the Cross 

After reading John 19:25-27, we see Mary Magdalene standing beside the cross. She had no power to change the situation, and she did not speak many great words. But she did not leave. Her faithfulness was drawing near to the Lord in the most painful place and remaining with Him when she could not understand.

As we close this page and return to real life, perhaps you are facing pain that cannot be changed immediately. Perhaps you are accompanying someone who is suffering. Perhaps you yourself are standing beside a cross in your life, with tears and questions filling your heart. Remember this: faithfulness is not always dramatic. Sometimes faithfulness is still praying today, still believing today, and still refusing to let pain carry you away from the Lord.

May today’s Scripture remind you: when you are powerless, you can still draw near to the Lord; when you do not understand, you can still trust Him; when you stand in a place of suffering, the crucified Lord has already gone there before you. May you be upheld by His love in your tears and strengthened by His hope in your suffering.

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