The Three Marys And Salome At The Cross – Easter Devotion Series

THE THREE MARYS AND SALOME AT THE CROSS – Easter Devotion

There are three passages of scripture we will consider today as our primary focus. Our thoughts are going to be on the women standing at, or near the cross at the crucifixion. Here are the passages about these women –

{{Matthew 27:56 “among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”}}

{{Mark 15:39 When the centurion who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome,

Mark 15:41 and when He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him, and there were many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem.”}}

{{John 19:25 “Therefore the soldiers did these things. There were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”}}

[A]. WHO WERE THE NAMED WOMEN AT THE CROSS?

According to Mark there were three women, who were Mary Magdalene, another Mary who was the mother of James and Joses, and another one called Salome.

Mark mentions “James the Less” and this term was employed to distinguish from James (the great) who was the Apostle, brother of John, mentioned often with Peter, James and John. James was beheaded by satanic Herod Agrippa I, and James the Less wrote the Epistle of James.

This description of Mary is believed to be the sister of the Lord’s mother with her two boys James and Joses. It is a little confusing when we know the Virgin Mary had boys of the same name. Mary’s other mentioned children were – {{Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of JAMES, AND JOSES, and Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” and they took offence at Him.”}} Mary had a lot of children, which gives the lie to the Roman Catholic teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin.

I find it very interesting why Mark does not mention Mary, Jesus’s mother, as John does in his account. Mark’s information largely came from Peter and I suppose at this time James and Jude were leaders in the church so it is probably why it was written that way. The third woman was Salome – {{Mark 15:40 “There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome”}}

On the other hand the Apostle John mentions Jesus’ mother and Mary, sister to Mary just mentioned, and Mary Magdalene. Mary, sister of Jesus’ mother was married to Clopas.

[B]. LOOKING FURTHER INTO THESE WOMEN

I’d like to spend a little time looking at why these women would be present at such a horrifying event. We know ghouls like public executions and watching cruelty done to others. This is why the Roman circuses with all their cruelty, mangling, and death were so popular under Roman rule. It is why the French reprobates cheered on each beheading at the guillotine in the French Revolution. But then, that is France.

[1]. MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS

I am incapable of describing the horror it was for Mary to have witnessed what was done to Jesus. The treatment was inhumane and spelled out exactly what the evil makeup of a man can do. One in Satan’s control is capable of the most extreme cruelty and greatest inhumanity.

Mary was at the cross because of love, and saw there the injustice and hate and mocking heaped upon her own Son. How can any mother see that against her own son? The savagery of those not of God is almost indescribable to the eyes and minds of Christians. Those who are God’s are watched over by the Spirit of God and such demonic behaviour is way out of their league. History is constantly littered with the barbarism of human beings against fellow humans. We only have to see this today in Islamic nations and Communism and dictatorships. Hell will be filled with the violence of men.

Mary stood there near the cross with a few close friends (women). The friends in Mary’s circle were numerous but a few were very close ones. Luke, always with the caring touch, points out a wider circle of women who assisted the Lord and His disciples in their journeying ministry – {{Luke 8:1-3 “It came about soon afterwards, that He began going about from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: MARY WHO WAS CALLED MAGDALENE, from whom seven demons had gone out, and JOANNA the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and SUSANNA, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”}}