Church of St. John 4: The Roman centurion is the first person

to put aside his contempt and to grant Jesus a relationship with the divine: a Son of God he calls him, 15:39. Now Mark points out to the reader that Jesus did not die as lonely as it seemed.

The women disciples participated in his suffering at a measured distance, 15:40-41.47. The women, as symbols of fruitfulness, point to new life, to Easter, just as the words of suffering pointed to the Passion.