Who Were the Women at the Cross?
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As we approach the celebration of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, the story of the cross once again captures our hearts and minds. We try to picture what it must have been like for Jesus, for those who loved Him, and for those who witnessed it. The women at the cross occupy a fascinating space in that picture.
The Gospels record many details leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, yet other facts are left unknown. Highlighting the women at the cross reinforces the account’s authenticity. It brings a sense of poignancy and significance to an event that upended all of history and changed the course of the world.
Does the Bible Name the Women at the Cross of Christ?
The Bible specifically names some of the women at the cross, while many others are not named. This reminds us again that the inspired Word of God brings to light exactly what the Holy Spirit led its authors to record, and in the way God desired.
The list of names both increases our understanding and piques our curiosity.
- Mary Magdelene, one of the women at the cross, became a devoted follower of Jesus after He cast out seven demons from her. She, along with other women, travelled in Jesus’s group of disciples. (Luke 8:1-3).
- Another Mary, the mother of James and Joseph (Joses in Mark 15:40), also stood at the cross.
- Mary, Jesus’ mother watched her Son die on the cross.
- A sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was with her at the cross.
- Mary, the wife of Clopas, watched in the crowd.
- Salome, mother of the sons of Zebedee, James and John, observed from a distance.
It is obvious that the name Mary was a common one at the time. The names of the sons were also similar. It is possible that some of the references may be an overlap of the same person, and for this reason, those named are difficult to number.
Some scholars believe Mary’s sister was Salome, others a sister-in-law, or the wife of Clopas, and still others think she was an entirely different person.
The women named at the cross are found in the following passages:
“But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25 ESV)
“There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.” (Mark 15:40).
“Among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” (Matthew 27:56 ESV)
What Does the Bible Say about Their Presence at Calvary?
These devoted women witnessed the cruel and unjust death of Jesus at the hand of Roman soldiers. Their love and loyalty paints for us a picture of the raw reality of that experience.
But they were not the only women at the cross. In fact, Scripture tells us that many women stood in the crowd to witness His death.
“There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.” (Matthew 27:55 ESV)
Other women who followed him from Galilee include Joanna and Susanna (Luke 8:1-3), and although their names are not mentioned at the cross, Luke 23:49 states that “all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.” (ESV)
Although we are not given specific names of those “many,” Scripture indicates the importance of their presence at the cross. It highlights their value and reinforces the tender truth that Christ died for everyone.
Those who followed Jesus to Jerusalem had a significant role. As Jesus and his disciples went from town to town proclaiming the good news, women traveling with the group ministered to Him. (Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:41)
In what way did they minister? What tasks fell to the women? The original word in Hebrew, diakoneo, from which comes our English word “deacon,” means to serve, wait upon, attend to. For those women who accompanied Jesus and His disciples, it likely referred to serving the group by preparing food and taking care of many of the domestic chores that such a large group required.
Their practical help would have been essential for Jesus and the disciples to accomplish the task they were called to do. This servant ministry naturally took them to the cross.
Why Did These Women Stay When Others Fled?
The night before Jesus’ crucifixion, all His disciples abandoned Him. Judas left the Passover supper to betray Jesus to the chief priests. The remaining eleven with Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Judas came with soldiers to arrest Jesus in the Garden. As Jesus had predicted, the night the soldiers took Him away, His disciples fled. The crowd turned against Him, and his disciples felt the danger of being associated with Him. And so, they did the opposite of all they had promised Him.
They all ran away. As those in authority condemned Him to death, Peter claimed to not even have known Jesus.
There is no account of women at the last supper or on the night of the arrest. The next time women are specifically mentioned again was on the next day when Jesus carried His own cross on the way to Calvary.
“And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:27-28 ESV)
Scripture doesn’t identify the women Jesus addressed. But their display of grief and compassion showed great courage and loyalty.
What We Can Learn from Their Courage and Faithfulness
While many of Jesus’ acquaintances and women stood at a distance, it seems that four of the women at the cross stood near it.
“But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25 ESV)
When Jesus saw His mother with the disciple John, he spoke to them. In Jesus’ final tender instruction, while in the throes of a painful death, He made final provisions for Mary. As the oldest son, He made sure she would be cared for and have a home to go to after His death.
In the horrific events of the day, the beatings of Jesus and frenzy of the mob, we have a picture of these four women not just as observers, but participants with Jesus, near the cross. Surely it took great courage to move within speaking distance, allying themselves to One for whom had risen such hatred. Their actions displayed deep faithfulness to Jesus, belief, and trust in the Son of God as Messiah.
While many ran away from Jesus in His time of need, they moved toward the cross.
Jesus desires us also to courageously and faithfully draw near to Him, despite whatever angry cries or demands around us might try to shame and separate us from our Lord.
How Were These Women Honored in the Resurrection Story?
The testimony of Jewish women at the time of Jesus’ death wasn’t considered reliable as public witnesses, yet this is exactly what Jesus asked of them. He turned the status quo upside down.
While the disciples remained behind closed doors for fear of the Jews after the crucifixion, the women, took their duties out into what would have been a highly charged atmosphere. (John 20:19)
They continued serving Jesus in His death. They prepared burial spices and carried them to the tomb to anoint His body.
The Book of Matthew records Mary Magdelene and “the other Mary” at the tomb. Mark writes that Salome, the mother of James and John, was there. Luke adds Joanna to the list, along with “other women.” And the book of John includes Mary Magdelene meeting and speaking with the risen Savior at the tomb.
Christ honored the women at the cross and at the tomb. They heard first the announcement of His resurrection by the angel. They witnessed the empty tomb first. Women saw Him alive first. They had the privilege of being first entrusted with the news of Jesus’ resurrection, and women were the first commissioned to go and tell others.
Although centuries have passed, the honor Jesus bestowed on the women at the cross remains a pivotal piece of the amazing truth of the most important event ever. Their courage, faithfulness, and the honor bestowed on them still testifies to us today.
We who have trusted Christ for salvation, like the women at the cross, are His witnesses. When life’s situations make us want to scatter like the disciples, may we instead courageously draw near to the cross. With the exuberance of the first bearers of resurrection news, let us boldly carry its truth to others.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/BibleArtLibrary
Her love for pasta and all things Italian stems from years of ministry abroad. She’d love to tell you about it over a steaming cup of cappuccino. Connect with Sylvia on her blog, When the House is Quiet, her Facebook page, or Twitter.