seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 27:55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Matthew 27:56 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph
The GodVine commentary offers us this.
Beholding afar off - At a distance - απο μακροθεν. Though this expression may be understood to refer, rather to the distance from which they came, (viz. from Galilee), than the distance they stood from the cross; yet, as all malefactors were crucified naked, perhaps this may account for the distance at which these modest women stood.
Ministering unto him - Attending him and providing for his wants. While multitudes of people joined in the cry, "Crucify him!" and forsook him in his trying moments, it does not appear that any of his female followers were thus unfaithful. In the midst of all his trials, and all the Contempt poured upon him, they adhered to their Redeemer. Never did female constancy shine more brightly, and never was a happier example set for all who should afterward believe on him!
Though Baronius asserts, and Lightfoot is of the same opinion, that Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, was one and the same person. It is difficult to ascertain and distinguish these women where their names occur in the Gospels, so many being called by the name of Mary.
And the mother of Zebedee's children - That is, of James and John, Matthew 10:2. Her name was Salome, Mark 15:40
Ministering unto him - Attending him and providing for his wants. While multitudes of people joined in the cry, "Crucify him!" and forsook him in his trying moments, it does not appear that any of his female followers were thus unfaithful. In the midst of all his trials, and all the Contempt poured upon him, they adhered to their Redeemer. Never did female constancy shine more brightly, and never was a happier example set for all who should afterward believe on him!
Though Baronius asserts, and Lightfoot is of the same opinion, that Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, was one and the same person. It is difficult to ascertain and distinguish these women where their names occur in the Gospels, so many being called by the name of Mary.
And the mother of Zebedee's children - That is, of James and John, Matthew 10:2. Her name was Salome, Mark 15:40
Women, since Eve, have made an impact in the Bible. I have been thinking, though, of what those women endured to be near the cross that day.
There was a total eclipse of the sun.... it stayed pitch dark for 3 hours according to the historians. That was followed by an earthquake that busted open solid rock. The Roman Soldiers [to put it mildly] were callus. The three men on the cross were naked. When humans die, they poop themselves. It was a horrific ordeal. There they stood.... waiting and watching.... maybe Jesus should have chosen women to stand watch at Gethsemane.
