The name Mary is quite popular in both my father and mother’s families. Myself and a couple of my cousins are named Mary. According to my father, I was named Mary after one of my great grandmother’s. I didn’t meet this woman alive but the other great grandmother I met alive was also called Mary. Now my question is why Mary? It is obvious that our families chose the name Mary because of the significant role of Mary, specifically the mother of Jesus. Nothing to do with the meaning of the name. The focus is giving the name to this little baby girl with the intention of seeing this baby grow into godly virtues that are commendable. If our families delight in the name Mary and the several variants of the name (Miriam, Miriam, Marie, Marilyn, Marie, Mariana, Marian, among 100s of other cultural variants) we should also know that the name was very popular in the days of Jesus as well. There were many women named Mary and even among the followers of Jesus we have Mary (the mother of Jesus), Mary (from Magdala or Mary Magdalene), Mary (the sister of Lazarus, who poured expensive perfume on Jesus), Mary (the mother of James and Joseph/Joses, also referred to as the other Mary), Mary (of Clopas), etc. This post will focus on Mary, the mother of James and Joseph.
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. (Mark 15:40)
The woman of focus in this post is identified by the names of her children, James the younger and of Joseph (also known as Joses). Mary was obviously a matured woman with sons who were probably old enough and were obviously disciples of Jesus as well. Remember, Jesus had more than twelve disciples. He appointed twelve of His disciples to become the twelve apostles. Mary is more likely to be one of the women referred to in Luke 8:2-3, “and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” It is likely that Mary was among the many others (see Mark 15: 41). Thus, Mary would have encountered the healing power of Jesus. She saw Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, multiply food and heard of the power of Jesus over nature (calming the storm, walking over the sea).
Mary was not oblivious of the extraordinary miracles of Jesus. Her household might have benefited from Jesus and she might have decided to spend her life following Jesus and supporting His ministry from her own means. Mary might have shared the same ideology with the rest of the disciples that Jesus is God’s Messiah to save Israel from oppression. As she joyfully served her Lord, she least expected that she would one day see her Lord killed. Yet, Mary was one of the women who witnessed the crucifixion: “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome” (Mark 15:40). She didn’t end her journey at the crucifixion, she followed her Lord to the tomb: “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:47). Mary returned on the third day to anoint her Lord: “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body” (Mark 16:1, see also Matthew 28:1). She was one of the few women to hear of the news of Jesus’ resurrection even before the Apostles. Right at the tomb, the angel said to them “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).
Mary definitely played an important role in the early church. She was one of those who might have shared her eye witness testimony to new converts. She would have testified of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. She would have mentored women in the early church. Mary was not a fanatic of Jesus, she was part of the ministry and her active involvement indicates the special roles women played in the ministry of Jesus and in the church.
The ministry of Mary, the mother of James and Joseph was a transformational one. She sat under the feet of Jesus, was equipped, trained and prepared for the assignment of the Great Commission. Mary didn’t give up on Jesus because of the cross. The tomb did not distract her. The big stone wasn’t a limitation. She believed in her Lord in life and death and witnessed the greatest work of salvation. She went to anoint a dead Jesus, but returned with the Good News of the resurrected Christ. May we be patient enough to experience the transformation that comes with sitting under the feet of Jesus.
Mary the mother of James and Joseph: Female disciples of Jesus
The ministry of Mary, the mother of James and Joseph was a transformational one. She sat under the feet of Jesus, was equipped, trained and prepared for the assignment of the Great Commission.
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