Jesus was not the only one who suffered on Good Friday. There were others but the one I’m drawn to right now is Mary, his mother. Here she is watching as her only son is taken prisoner, sentenced to crucifixion, scourged, forced to carry the cross after being badly beaten up a rough hill, nailed to the cross, and painfully died. She was without sin and knew the teachings from the prophets who said this would happen. I wonder what was going through her mind as she watched this unfold. Was she scared of what might happen to her? Was she cursing those who were doing this to her son? Was she praying to God and trusting that this is a part of His plan for the world? When she said yes to Gabriel, did she fully understand what that yes meant? Did she understand that he would rise on Easter Sunday? Was she cursing the soldiers and questioning God’s plan and being angry that his disciples abandoned him? Or did she cling to her faith and trust God’s plan? Did she feel like she was not ready for this? How great was the suffering she endured? A mother’s heart aches when her children suffer. What was she feeling? Was she scared? Was she angry? Was she anxious? Was she at peace? Was she trusting and faithful? Mary was without sin. She was still human and a mother. Her heart must have ached as she watched what was happening to her son.