And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after, saw the sepulchre and how his body was laid.
κατακολουθησασαι δε γυναικες αιτινες ησαν συνεληλυθυιαι αυτω εκ της γαλιλαιας εθεασαντο το μνημειον και ως ετεθη το σωμα αυτου
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The women, while they believed in the Lord, possessed a faith that was less than it should have been—weak and limited. In their perception of Him as simply a man, they gathered spices and incense as was customary among the Jews for honoring the deceased. However, on the Sabbath, in accordance with the command of the law, they rested peacefully.
Insightful women accompanied our shared Savior Christ, collecting everything essential for faith in Him. When He offered His flesh as a price for the salvation of all humanity, they prudently took on the responsibility of caring for His body, believing that the lifeless form would stay in the tomb.
Not everyone can take on the task of laying Christ to rest. Women, even those who are devout, remain at a distance; however, their reverence permits them to witness the burial site and present their offerings of incense. Their unease and concern lead them to be the last to depart from the tomb and the first to return. While they display unwavering faith, their passion is evident. The more delicate gender may exhibit hesitation, yet their fervor is unmistakable.
The women also accompanied Jesus... bringing fragrant oils and ointments. This is reflected in the explanation of the words, "And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, who sat opposite the tomb." And on the Sabbath, in accordance with the commandment, they remained alone. Refer to the interpretation. Luke 24:1.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary witnessed where He was buried. The significance of their following the Savior throughout Galilee, as noted by the Evangelists, cannot be overstated. However, it is important to remember that many were drawn to Him, and He remarked about some of these followers: "Amen, I say to you, seek Me, not because you have seen a sign, but because you have eaten bread." The scene shifts dramatically as we find these devoted women at the foot of the cross, where the shame and anguish of death obscured the divine splendor of the heavenly messenger from the eyes of onlookers. The Good Shepherd was astonished, His disciples were scattered in fear; Peter, who had vowed to remain with Jesus unto death, denied Him thrice.
Yet, these faithful women stood by Him, unwavering amidst the terrors of crucifixion. They followed Him to Golgotha, weeping in empathy as they trailed His path; they remained close while their beloved Teacher endured suffering. Some observed His pain from a distance, filled with compassion, while others positioned themselves beside the cross. Neither the fury of the crowd, nor the spiteful actions of the scribes and Pharisees, nor the arrogance of the soldiers could drive them away from their divine Teacher. Afterwards, they identified where He was buried and sat opposite His tomb.
If only Jesus’ followers on earth understood what He was accomplishing in the realm of the dead! Their grief would swiftly transform into joy. Yet, they are focused solely on the lifeless body, the finality of loss. Jesus, however, shatters the gates of hell; meanwhile, His disciples huddle in fear within a dark haven, locking their doors against the Jews. Unbeknownst to them, guards have already been stationed at Jesus’ tomb. As the feast concludes, some contemplate leaving Jerusalem entirely, echoing the thoughts of the travelers from Emmaus, longing to return to their former lives, which they had left behind in search of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus brings life to the dead, while His followers prepare to bestow fragrant oils upon His lifeless form.
Mary Magdalene, among the women—and particularly devoted to Jesus—sets out to procure spices even before the Sabbath hours have concluded, hoping to anoint His body at dawn. She believes that Joseph and Nicodemus lacked the time to properly honor their beloved Lord due to the hastiness of the Sabbath. Her heart, at the very least, compels her to carry out this act. Other women, including the sister of the Mother of God, John’s mother, Joanna, and several others, express a desire to join in this honor. The myrrh-bearers' intentions reveal deep love and fervor for Jesus but are tinged with doubt rather than faith. Throughout Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, they heard Him speak of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Witnessing the fulfillment of the first prophecies should have led them to trust in the last. Notably, Mary, Jesus' mother—filled with unparalleled love for Him—did not partake in this common endeavor with the others. Reflecting on Jesus’ words, she showed a greater attentiveness to the remarkable instances of His life from birth to burial and had likely learned to hold firm to His divine promises. Quietly in her spirit, she cherished the belief that her Jesus would not face eternal death. Furthermore, one could speculate that John, who had taken the place of Jesus in her life, perhaps shared the early willingness to trust in Jesus’ resurrection that he would later exhibit. It was only natural for him, who reclined against Jesus at the last supper, to discuss with His mother their most cherished memories, particularly the Lord’s assuring words: "Children, I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Not much longer, and the world shall see Me no more: but you shall see Me; for I live, and you shall live... I go to prepare a place for you, and when I have prepared a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself... Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you, ‘I go away and I will come to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father; for my Father is greater than I.’ Soon you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me... You have sorrow now: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice..." As Mary and John recalled these comforting promises of the Lord, albeit not with complete faith, they found a willing agreement to the quiet assurance resonating within their hearts—the promise that they would see Jesus once more. Even Lazarus, recently raised from the dead, could inspire hope and reinforce their thoughts regarding the resurrection of the One who had brought him back to life.
Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, observed where He was being laid. They were positioned by the entrance of the tomb, as recorded by Matthew the Evangelist. Alongside them were other women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, watching as Joseph and Nicodemus placed His body in the sepulcher. Afterward, they returned home to prepare the spices and ointments necessary for anointing Jesus' body in accordance with Jewish tradition, but they postponed this act until after the Sabbath, to honor the commandment regarding Sabbath rest.
As the day came to an end and the sun set, the Sabbath commenced, which was indeed a significant day since it coincided with Passover. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, witnessed the burial. After the burial rituals concluded and the large stone was placed at the tomb's entrance, they remained there in sorrowful contemplation before returning home to prepare spices and perfumes for their cherished Lord and Master. There, they were joined by other disciples and followers who, having begun to recover from the traumas of the preceding day, gradually came together to observe the upcoming great feast in a spirit of brotherly love and fellowship. For them, this occasion was marked by profound sadness, deep sorrow, and unending tears.
Accompanying him from the crucifixion site at Golgotha to the burial place within Joseph's garden, those who loved their sinless Lord likely felt compelled to support the entombment of the Savior in whatever manner they could. However, the Gospel writers simply note that the women observed the placement of the body, including where and how He was laid to rest.
The women who had traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem also arrived, and they inspected the tomb to see how His body had been placed within.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 20 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS