Verse 25
The four women standing nearby contrast with the four soldiers. Morris assumed that the four women were believers and the four soldiers were unbelievers. [Note: Morris, p. 717.] While the soldiers behaved callously and profited immediately from Jesus’ death, the women waited faithfully and patiently for what God would do. It was apparently common for friends and relatives, as well as enemies, to stand at some distance around the crosses of crucified criminals. [Note: E. Stauffer, Jesus and His Story, pp. 111, 179, footnote 1.] Only John mentioned that Jesus’ mother was present at His crucifixion.
| Some Women Who Observed the Crucifixion |
| Matthew 27:56 | Mark 15:40 | John 19:25 |
| Mary Magdalene | Mary Magdalene | Mary Magdalene |
| Jesus’ mother (Mary) | ||
| Mary the mother of James and Joseph = | Mary the mother of James the less and Joses = | Mary the wife of Clopas |
| Mother of Zebedee’s sons = | Salome = | Jesus’ mother’s sister |
It is interesting that John did not identify his own mother by name or as the mother of Zebedee’s sons. John never named himself, or his brother James, or any other member of his family. He evidently wanted to play down his mother’s identity as well as his own since he did not mention himself directly in this Gospel either. By referring to his mother as the sister of Jesus’ mother, John set the scene for Jesus’ action in John 19:26-27. John was Jesus’ cousin on his mother’s side. As such, he was a logical person to assume responsibility for Mary’s welfare. Evidently Jesus’ physical half-brothers did not become believers until after His resurrection.
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