Mark 15:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

How are we to comprehend that the same Mary Magdalene stood at a distance alongside other women, as reported by Matthew and Luke, yet was also present at the cross, as described by John? They were positioned in such a way that one might say they were ‘at the cross,’ since they were within His sight, while also ‘at a distance’ when compared to the throng surrounding Him, which included both centurions and soldiers. It might also be interpreted that the women accompanying the Lord's mother, after He entrusted her to the disciple, began to withdraw in the face of the crowd's aggression, and what occurred afterwards was witnessed by them as they receded. The evangelists, who recounted the women's presence following the Lord’s death, could justly state that they were at a distance.

Nearby, we also find Salome, the spouse of Zebedee and the mother of Apostles James and John, along with several other faithful women who had traveled with the Savior from Galilee to Jerusalem. Were any of the Apostles present at the foot of the cross? Only the beloved disciple, John, was there, driven by his love for Jesus to leave the high priest’s court and endure the dangers posed by the enemies of Christ. Were there any other disciples at the cross? Was fiery Peter present? Was doubtful Thomas there? Was Judas, the zealot for divine matters, among them? The Gospel writers reveal no other apostles at the cross of Jesus aside from John. It is suggested that Thomas might have glimpsed Jesus on Golgotha, but only after He had been pierced and His sacred body had become lifeless. Thus, as St. Chrysostom observes, “the weaker sex then proved courageous; the disciples fled, but they were present.”

How far removed from this promise they now found themselves! Their hearts were consumed by one feeling: the agonizing loss of Jesus, which stripped them of everything, compounded by deep regret and self-reproach. Each disciple realized that they had forfeited everything tied to Jesus. Their aspirations of the glorious Kingdom of the Messiah lay shattered like fragile glass. They no longer cared about these hopes; they felt trapped and helpless. Their belief in Jesus, along with the brilliance of His glory, was overshadowed, and they were deprived of the extraordinary powers that faith had once bestowed upon them. They were filled with fear, devoid of miraculous ability, lacking friends to support them, and without resources that could ensure their safety; everything that had sustained them vanished with their Master into the tomb. They feared the same fate awaited them from their fellow countrymen. Having spent so much time with their Divine Teacher, they had nurtured a sincere love for Him. And how could they not hold Him dear? How deeply He loved them! How gracious He had been towards them! What life-giving teachings He had shared! How fiercely He protected them from His enemies! How He continued to care for them, even in His moment of suffering! Who among them could fully reciprocate such love? Would it not be like a stone to be indifferent towards Him? His heart was wide open to them; He revealed to them profound mysteries. As their Lord, He embraced them as friends. But now that Jesus was gone, could they find solace in reflecting on their actions towards Him? Could any of them truly claim: I stood by You, Divine Teacher, until the very end, sharing everything with You; only a cruel circumstance tore You away from us? Conversely, their conscience weighed heavily, reminding each one: you were not worthy for Him to remain with you forever. Their memories were acute of the sufferings He endured during His final nights with them: when He foretold one among them would deny Him three times in the imminent night, they all protested, No, that is impossible! And how did they respond when Jesus was arrested? They were willing to abandon their last possessions to escape from His adversaries. The closer He drew some of them in these harrowing moments to share their troubled hearts with Him, the less equipped they were to do so. He urged them to pray alongside Him – yet they slumbered. He sought to convey the peril of the impending ordeal – but they could not grasp His meaning. He conveyed the suffering He was soon to face – yet they bickered about who among them would be the greatest in the heavenly Kingdom. Ultimately, was it not from among their ranks that the traitor emerged? In this manner, all hope, all comfort dissipated in the hearts of Christ's disciples under the heavy burden of their Master’s absence, particularly in the hours following the harrowing events at Golgotha. The time foretold by Jesus at the Last Supper had indeed arrived: you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will search for Me, but cannot come where I am going. Gradually, they began to gather, but sensed no relief among their companions, nor in solitude. Others closely tied to Jesus could not help but share their sorrow, especially His Holy Mother, who witnessed His agony on the cross and lamented deeply for her beloved Son. Simeon’s prophecy found its fulfillment in her life: a sword pierced her soul. Each drop of Jesus' blood felt like a burning anguish in her heart. The humiliation and disgrace He suffered as He was counted among sinners weighed heavily on her, given that she had known Him as the Son of God even before His birth, and had anticipated the honor bestowed upon her by all the tribes because of Him. In His own moment of deep affliction, Jesus sought to shield His mother from witnessing His agonizing end; yet this effort provided little relief to her heartache. The mother of the Apostles James and Judas, along with Salome, the mother of the other two Apostles James and John, likely joined the Blessed Virgin at John’s residence in Jerusalem and certainly shared in each other's tears. Those who witnessed Jesus’ suffering returned from that shameful sight, their hearts heavy with grief: what torment must have afflicted the women bound to Him by blood ties, love, and hopeful aspirations? Among them was the fervent, loving Mary Magdalene, who stood at the foot of the cross alongside His Mother, the sisters of Lazarus, who had seen their brother restored but now realized that this event was the catalyst for the decisive actions taken by the Sanhedrin against Jesus; Joseph and Nicodemus, who had concealed their connections to Him until now, met Him only to offer their final respects to one abandoned by all; in short, all who had known Jesus to any degree now grappled with emotions similar to those of the apostles.

In the Gospel of John, some scholars interpret the text to suggest a distinction among four individuals: 1) the mother of Jesus, 2) her sister, 3) Mary of Cleopas, and 4) Mary Magdalene. This leads to the conclusion that Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, is indeed the spouse of Cleopas. This connection highlights the relationship of James and Joseph to Jesus Christ, as traditional accounts suggest that Cleopas may have been a brother to Joseph, though whether he was a cousin or brother-in-law remains uncertain. Furthermore, there exists another viewpoint that proposes James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas as sons of Joseph from a prior marriage.

Those who have experienced suffering know how isolating it can be, especially when surrounded by those hostile to your pain. The heart of a mother perceives this isolation more acutely than anyone, and her yearning is not swayed by potential dangers. Thus, it is reasonable to believe that once the soldiers completed their grim tasks and settled to guard Jesus, John promptly guided the Mother of God through the throng, joined by Mary Magdalene and Mary Cleopas, as they all positioned themselves by the Cross, disregarding the risks.

Initially, they may have stood in a way that allowed Jesus to overlook their presence, possibly due to the hostile crowd surrounding the Cross. Yet, as the enemies quitted their mockery and drew back, Our Lady and John, ever watchful over her, approached so that Jesus would see them. When Christ departed from this world, His Blessed Mother found herself alone, without anyone to care for her. Joseph had passed away, and the so-called brothers of the Lord, who were Mary Cleopas’ sons and not followers of Jesus, offered her no comfort. Upon seeing His Mother and Beloved disciple standing nearby, Jesus entrusted John with her care, addressing her with the words, "Woman, behold your son" (John 19:26), while indicating John with His gaze. Turning to John, He said, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:27). John later recounts that he took her into his own home from that moment onward (John 19:27), caring for her as a son would for his mother.

The accounts provided by Evangelists Matthew and Mark of those women observing Jesus’ final moments from a distance do not mention the Mother of God (Mark 15:40-41). This absence conceivably suggests that she was not present at her Son's death. It is plausible that Jesus wished to spare His Mother from the excruciating emotional torment of witnessing His suffering, and gave John the silent signal to take her away, yet it must be considered that after escorting her to safety, John returned to the scene, as he details the events that followed, affirming, "And he who saw testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he speaks the truth" (John 19:35). It seems unlikely that John, after taking the Mother of God into his home, would abandon her at such a devastating moment. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that she remained close to the Cross, or at least within sight of it, while the onlookers observed (Luke 23:35).

Yet, where were the other Apostles except John? Where were the dedicated followers of Christ who had pledged to accompany Him on His final journey to Jerusalem and share in His fate? Where was Peter, who had so boldly vowed to lay down his life for the Lord? In this moment of sorrow, where were they, those who recognized Jesus as the Son of God? Where had they scattered? Surely, there was Judas, far from Golgotha, filled with remorse and looking back (see Matthew 27:5).

The state of the ten missing Apostles can be speculated upon through the events preceding and following their scattering. The Apostles, alongside the Jewish populace, yearned for the Messiah to emerge as a powerful King, to liberate them from Roman rule and establish sovereignty over the nations. Such was their notion of the Messiah's role, a concept so enticing that even the Apostles—despite numerous teachings from Christ about His not being of this world—were unable to fully renounce it. They envisioned their esteemed positions in the Messiah’s kingdom and even debated among themselves regarding who would be granted the highest honors. The bold “sons of thunder,” John and James, dared to ask Jesus for positions of honor at His side. Their belief in a glorious earthly reign of the Messiah warped their understanding, causing them to disbelieve His foretellings of suffering, death, and resurrection, which felt wholly incompatible with their aspirations. They could not fathom how He, the Messiah, could endure such pain or face death, for to them, a ruler could not be subject to death. Any contemplation of His resurrection was clouded by this confusion, leaving them in a quandary: How could He have victory if He could not perish? This enigma was an impossible puzzle.

Frustrated by what they perceived as Jesus' reluctance to claim His kingship, they likely puzzled over why He did not rise to the occasion when the multitude desired to crown Him King of Israel. They had almost relinquished hope as Jesus made His fateful journey toward Jerusalem, cautioning Him against going, fearing it heralded imminent death. If any acceptance of His potential demise crossed their minds, it stemmed solely from doubts regarding His identity as the Messiah. Yet their love for Him as a prophet compelled them to follow. “Let us go, that we may die with Him!” Thomas suggested—each of them following thereafter.

As Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, the people's elevation of their King-Messiah momentarily rekindled the Apostles' dreams of glory, but the abrupt severance from the ruling powers and the populace's waning support drove them into despair. When He was arrested and put on trial like a criminal, fear drove them all into hiding, with even the most ardent among them denying Him thrice, desisting even from uttering His name. Nevertheless, following His trial, they held a sliver of hope that their Master might somehow avert a disgraceful death, believing that a miraculous deliverance was possible. However, hope dimmed as reality sunk in at Calvary; their dreams of shared glory and victories were shattered. Their memories of Jesus’ promise about the twelve thrones (as shared in His farewell discourse) only deepened their despondency: Where were those promised thrones? Where was the glory that Jesus spoke of? Was His throne not the Cross He bore?

Haunted by the weight of their broken dreams, they struggled with their faith, seeking affirmation that the One they had followed remained the Son of God. Did they not wish for Him to demonstrate His power and liberate Himself from the Cross, revealing His kingdom for all to see? Did doubt not whisper in their hearts as they observed their crucified Master from a distance, each prayer for His removal from the Cross met with silence? The prospect of participating in the awaited kingdom now loomed far and forlorn, replaced by encompassing despair.

As the reality of events unfolded, they could not see that Christ was destined to achieve victory through His death and resurrection. They had forgotten His final exhortation: "Take heart! I have overcome the world!" Only following the Resurrection, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, did their hearts—previously heavy—finally awaken to understanding. Gaining clarity, they then preached with conviction of the risen Christ, reflecting a faith born from their tribulations.

Consequently, while examining the inner turmoil of the Apostles as they beheld their crucified Lord from a distance, we should not be surprised by their doubt and hesitation nor lament their struggles. It was the will of the Father to lead them to a mature faith through the trials they faced. Their doubts and disappointments were deemed necessary for forging their steadfast belief in Jesus as God incarnate, preparing them to evangelize and overcome the world. Thus, their despair served Divine purpose.

Let us, too, position ourselves at the foot of the Lord’s Cross! Let us mentally kneel before the Suffering Savior, who, as the pure and ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins, speaks even now through the centuries. Do we hear the echoes of His commandment to love one another just as He has loved us? Are we reminded of His declaration that there is no greater love than sacrificing oneself for one’s friends (John 15:13)? Do we remember that our love for one another signifies our identity as His disciples (John 13:35)? What can we respond to the Lord who suffered for us? Can we confidently assert that we remember His commandments and embody the love He exemplified? Rather, may we humbly confess to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know our hearts, filled not with selfless love, but with pride and animosity."

May we acknowledge the prevalence of sin, greed, and strife amidst humanity, fostering a reality that has overshadowed genuine compassion and charity towards our neighbors. The cruel irony of self-proclaimed Christian behavior betrays the teachings of Christ, prioritizing selfishness over obedience to God's will. As nations clash and countless souls perish in turmoil, we must contemplate whether we can genuinely profess to adhere to His commandments. By eroding His teachings in favor of worldly values, we unwittingly inflict agony upon Him anew, crucifying Him once more.

Let those who believe in Christ approach the foot of His Cross! Let us implore Him to quell any animosity in our hearts, igniting a genuine love for Him and each other. May He awaken within us a spirit of awareness regarding our spiritual shortcomings and renew our commitment to contribute to His kingdom. May He empower us through the Holy Spirit to forge a unity among all believers. Amen.

But those who stood nearby, familiar with Him and the women who had accompanied Him from Galilee, maintained their distance yet observed intently (Luke 23:49). The presence of Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleopas, and others, who faithfully followed Him, further emphasizes the moment’s gravity. John’s account affirms that Mary Magdalene and Mary Cleopas stood with Our Lady. Thus, when Mark notes that they viewed the crucifixion from afar, we can surmise they may have distanced themselves as fear enveloped the crowd on Golgotha. Their haste in departing marked the scene, as grief and despair took hold, with many lamenting and others in anguish. A haunting question may have lingered: was the crucified Jesus not indeed the Messiah? The Roman centurion and soldiers, witnesses to the unfolding tragedy, felt compelled to exclaim, "Truly, this was the Son of God."

The pain of her isolation weighed heavily on His compassionate heart, prompting Him to express concern for her even from the cross. After His resurrection, she would be with the apostles, and the disciple who knew Him best, the one closest to His heart, would be entrusted with her care. Thus, to John, whom He loved more than the others, whose head had rested on His breast during their last supper, He entrusted her. He gently addressed her, saying, “Woman, behold thy son,” and turning to John, “behold thy mother.” Though He could not move His hands that were nailed, He indicated His intention with a nod of His head. The air was charged with emotion as they absorbed His words, and from that moment, John took her away from the agonizing scene, which only inflicted further torment on her soul.