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Mark 15:40 |
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There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Note 11 at Mr 15:40: Mary, the mother of the Apostle James (see note 3 at Mr 1:19) and Joses, was one of the women who accompanied the Lord in His tours of Galilee (Mr 15:41). She supported, from her substance, the work and ministry of the Lord (Mr 15:41 and Lu 8:2-3). John mentioned a "Mary the wife of Cleophas" (Joh 19:25) as standing at the cross during the crucifixion, and it is possible that she was this same Mary whom Mark was referring to here.
The wording of Joh 19:25 has also led many to believe that "Mary the wife of Cleophas" was also the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. That is a possibility but not a certainty. Mark mentioned that there were many other women beholding the crucifixion (Mr 15:41), and the punctuation of Joh 19:25 leaves some doubt that "Mary the wife of Cleophas" was the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus whom John was speaking of. It would be unusual for sisters to be given identical names.
At any rate, this Mary the mother of James and Joses was one of the women who went to the tomb early on the resurrection morning, saw the angels, and brought their announcement back to the disciples (Mt 28:7-8, Mr 16:7-8, and Lu 24:10). It is probable that this Mary was also one of the women present in the upper room after the ascension of Jesus (Ac 1:13-14).

