Ana's journey reaches its emotional climax as she navigates betrayal, loss, and unwavering love in the face of Jesus's crucifixion. From a heartfelt farewell with her aunt to the agonizing events in Jerusalem, Ana's strength and devotion are tested as she bears witness to the tragic fate of her husband. These chapters weave together themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of female solidarity amidst immense suffering.
Chapter 96: My Own Largeness Has Been to Bless Yours
Before Ana departs from the Therapeutae, her aunt Yaltha bestows a final blessing upon her. Yaltha reflects on Ana's rebellious and ambitious spirit, emphasizing that her true distinction lies not only in her capabilities but in her "passion to bring it forth." Overwhelmed, Ana kneels as Yaltha places a hand on her head, declaring, "My own largeness has been to bless yours." This moment cements their deep bond, framing Ana's departure as the fulfillment of her destiny rather than an escape.
The escape plan unfolds as Ana enters a freshly crafted coffin in the woodworking shop, designed to smuggle her out of the community. Gaius provides her with a travel pouch and an awl before sealing the lid with four nails. Plunged into darkness, Ana can only see through tiny air holes as the coffin is loaded onto a wagon driven by Pamphile. During their journey, Ana hears the muffled singing of the Therapeutae members lining the path. The journey becomes terrifying when Roman soldiers halt the wagon, questioning Pamphile, who claims she is transporting a deceased man to his family in Alexandria. After a tense wait, the soldiers allow them to pass. Overcome by heat and panic inside the coffin, Ana uses her awl to rap on the side and screams for Pamphile to free her. Soon after, Pamphile pries open the lid, and Ana is met with a rush of light. The chapter concludes with Ana and Lavi setting sail for Judea.
Chapter 97: I Will Rest Once I See Them
Ana and Lavi arrive outside Jerusalem on the thirteenth of Nisan, Passover, where the hills are dotted with pilgrim campfires. Delayed, they arrive late to the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany, missing the Passover meal with Jesus. Lazarus greets them but is evasive when Ana asks about Jesus's whereabouts. She joyfully reunites with Mary and Martha and is astonished to see Tabitha, who can now speak clearly and plays the lyre beautifully. Ana finds Jesus's cloak and staff, indicating he has been staying there, and learns he has been anxiously awaiting her arrival.
The atmosphere is heavy with unspoken dread. Mary explains that Jesus decided to take the Passover meal in Jerusalem with only his disciples, and mentions that Judas has been acting strangely. Tabitha confides that she anointed Jesus’s feet with expensive spikenard as a gesture of gratitude, angering Judas, who claimed the money should have gone to the poor. Jesus defended Tabitha, creating a public rift. Lazarus reveals the source of the danger: Jesus has been openly embracing the title of Messiah, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill a prophecy and causing a riot by overturning the money changers' tables in the Temple. These actions have drawn the ire of both the high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Lazarus recounts an argument where Judas challenged Jesus’s non-violent approach, revealing the deep ideological chasm between them.
Chapter 98: What Did You Do?
Well past dawn, Ana wakes and prepares to search for Jesus in Jerusalem, accompanied by Lavi. They begin at the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, a place where Jesus often prayed. After a frantic search, Ana hears a deep moaning nearby. Lavi investigates and calls for her to come quickly. They find Judas hunched on the ground, rocking back and forth in agony.
When Ana touches him, he begs her not to look at him. A cold dread forms inside her, and she demands to know what he has done. He doesn't answer, so she accuses him: "You handed Jesus over to the Romans, didn’t you?" Judas strikes his own chest and flings a pouch of silver coins into the trees. He confesses that he led the Temple guard to the garden the previous night and identified Jesus with a kiss, knowing they would hand him over to the Romans. He believed that by forcing Jesus's hand, he would either inspire Jesus to lead an uprising or that his death would incite the people to revolt. He tells Ana that Jesus’s question—"Judas, would you betray me with a kiss?"—made him realize the horror of his actions. He begs for forgiveness, but Ana only asks where her husband is. Judas tells her they took Jesus to Pilate’s palace. Without another word, Ana bolts toward the city, Lavi chasing after her.
Chapter 99: Little Thunder
Ana and Lavi plunge into the crowded streets of Jerusalem during Passover, heading toward Mariamme’s Tower, near Herod's palace where Pilate resides. They encounter a large, unnaturally quiet crowd lining the street. Pushing through, Ana steps into the road just as a procession appears: a Roman centurion on horseback, soldiers, and a man staggering under the weight of a heavy wooden crossbeam. Lavi tries to shield her, but she sees the man's face. It is Jesus, beaten, bloodied, and wearing a crown of thorns.
A silent howl of pain rips through Ana. Jesus stumbles and collapses under the weight. Ana screams and, wrenching free from Lavi’s grip, runs to her husband's side. In the midst of the horror, an eerie calm descends, and the world recedes until it is only the two of them. She wipes blood from his eye with the sleeve of his own cloak, which she is wearing. He sees the red thread on her wrist and whispers her name. She tells him she will not leave him and that his goodness and love will not be forgotten. He smiles faintly and calls her by her cherished nickname, "Little Thunder." Their moment is broken when the centurion yanks her away. As the procession continues with another man forced to carry the crossbeam, Ana removes her broken sandals and follows her husband barefoot.
Chapter 100: I Will Give Him the Full Attention of My Heart
Ana follows the procession to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, calling out to Jesus so he knows she is there. She is joined by a small group of women: Jesus's mother Mary, his sister Salome, Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Magdala. They are the only followers present. As Jesus is prepared for crucifixion, Ana resolves not to look away but to bear witness and give him "the full attention of my heart" as her final gift. She watches the horrific process of the soldiers nailing him to the cross.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, the crowd jeers, taunting him to save himself. Ana spots Judas standing alone on the edge of the hill, his hands outstretched in a plea for mercy. Her earlier fury has vanished, replaced by a profound pity for her lost and misguided brother. She crosses her hands over her chest and nods to him, a gesture of acknowledgement before he disappears. Time loses meaning as the women wait. When the soldiers become distracted, Ana and the other women rush to the foot of the cross. They surround his feet with their hands, forming a "flower" of silent, steadfast love. Jesus’s eyes grow distant, and with a final breath, he says, "It is finished." Ana feels his spirit leave him, imagining it soaring and scattering everywhere. Later, in the tomb, the women prepare his body for burial. Ana is frozen, numb with shock and grief, unable to touch him and make his death real.
Key Events
- Yaltha's Blessing: Yaltha blesses Ana, giving her a powerful send-off.
- The Escape: Ana is smuggled out of the Therapeutae community hidden in a coffin, narrowly avoiding detection by Roman soldiers.
- Reunion in Bethany: Ana reunites with Tabitha, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and learns of the extreme danger Jesus is in due to his messianic claims.
- Judas's Confession: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas confesses to Ana that he betrayed Jesus to the authorities, hoping to spark a revolution.
- The Via Dolorosa: Ana witnesses Jesus, beaten and bloodied, carrying his crossbeam through Jerusalem.
- The Final Meeting: Ana comforts Jesus after he falls, and they share a final, intimate exchange where he calls her "Little Thunder."
- The Crucifixion: Ana and a small group of women are the sole followers who bear witness to Jesus's crucifixion at Golgotha.
- Jesus's Death: Jesus dies on the cross, and Ana is left numb with grief as his body is prepared for burial.
Character Development
- Ana: Ana transforms into a figure of immense strength and resolve, facing her greatest fears with courage. Her final act of love is to bear witness with the "full attention of her heart," fulfilling Yaltha's blessing. Her ability to feel pity for Judas showcases her emotional depth.
- Jesus: Jesus's journey reaches its tragic conclusion. He is portrayed as a man suffering immense physical pain, whose final thoughts are of the woman he loves. His nickname for Ana, "Little Thunder," acknowledges her spirit and their profound connection, grounding his story in a deeply human love as an egalitarian partnership.
- Judas: Judas's character arc culminates in his tragic confession. His zealotry and political ambitions have blinded him to Jesus's true message. His profound remorse reveals the broken man behind the betrayal. He represents a path of violent revolution that Jesus rejected.
- The Women: The women emerge as the truly faithful disciples. They bravely follow Jesus to his death, providing a silent, powerful circle of love and support, underscoring the theme of Feminism and Women's Voices.
Themes & Symbols
- Feminism and Women's Voices: The narrative asks, "Were we women the only ones with hearts large enough to hold such anguish?" By placing Ana and the other women at the center of the story as the sole witnesses, Kidd reclaims the narrative from a patriarchal tradition and highlights female strength, loyalty, and spiritual fortitude.
- The Search for Self and Personal Longing: Ana's journey culminates in her ability to stand as a steadfast witness to the end of Jesus's longings. Yaltha's blessing affirms that Ana's purpose is to express her own "largeness," which she does through her unwavering love and presence.
- The Coffin: The coffin symbolizes death and rebirth. For Ana to return to her life with Jesus, she must undergo a symbolic death, leaving behind her peaceful existence with the Therapeutae. Emerging from the coffin is a rebirth into a world of pain, love, and destiny.
- The Red Thread: When Ana touches Jesus's face for the last time, he sees the red thread on her wrist. This symbolizes their fated, unbreakable bond that transcends even death.
- Bare Feet: Ana removing her sandals to follow Jesus to Golgotha is a symbolic act of solidarity, demonstrating her complete devotion and empathy.
Key Quotes
“My own largeness has been to bless yours.”
Yaltha's blessing encapsulates the mentorship and deep affection between her and Ana. It signifies the passing of wisdom and strength from one generation of women to another, empowering Ana to embrace her destiny and fulfill her potential.
“Judas, would you betray me with a kiss?”
Jesus's poignant question to Judas highlights the depth of betrayal and the personal nature of their relationship. It underscores the tragedy of Judas's actions, revealing the profound disappointment and heartbreak caused by his betrayal.
“Little Thunder.”
Jesus's cherished nickname for Ana, spoken during their final meeting, is a tender moment of intimacy amidst the surrounding horror. It encapsulates their deep connection and love, serving as a reminder of their shared history and the strength of their bond.
“I will give him the full attention of my heart.”
Ana's resolution to bear witness to Jesus's crucifixion with unwavering focus and love is a powerful act of devotion. It signifies her commitment to honoring his life and suffering, even in the face of unimaginable pain, and highlights her strength and resilience.
Significance
This section represents the climax of the novel, where all narrative threads converge in the tragedy of the crucifixion. It is the culmination of Ana's personal journey, Jesus's spiritual mission, and Judas's political zealotry. By placing Ana at the heart of this pivotal historical and religious event, Kidd fulfills the book's central premise: to give a voice to the silenced woman in Jesus's life. The chapters fundamentally reframe the Passion narrative, shifting the focus from divine sacrifice to an intensely personal story of human love, loss, and unwavering loyalty. The stark contrast between Judas's violent, failed vision for God's kingdom and Jesus's non-violent one is tragically resolved, solidifying the novel's exploration of Alternative Faith and Spirituality.
In these harrowing chapters, Sue Monk Kidd masterfully humanizes one of Western culture's most mythologized events. The power of the narrative lies in its intimate, first-person perspective. The crucifixion is experienced through the eyes of a wife watching her beloved husband be tortured to death. Kidd's most significant literary choice is to write Ana into the scene as an active participant in Jesus's final moments, reinforcing the theme of love as an egalitarian partnership. Furthermore, the deliberate focus on the small band of women as the only faithful followers is a powerful feminist statement. Ana's final emotion toward Judas—pity, not rage—demonstrates a sophisticated psychological depth, elevating the story beyond a simple tale of good versus evil into a nuanced exploration of human fallibility and suffering.