The apostle John wrote how, “the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which says, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-five of his book John wrote how, “there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother” where we read:
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother,
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
The verse reads, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, ...” John began with the words, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus” which means “moreover standing, fixed and established beside and near the well known instrument of most cruel and ignominious punishment, borrowed by the Greeks and Romans from the Phoenicians belonging to the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “his mother” or “his, Jesus', immediate female progenitor and ancestor”. John shared how Jesus' “mother” was standing near the “cross” upon which He was hung.
The verse continues, “... and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.” John added the words, “and his mother's sister” or “and the female sibling of Jesus' immediate female progenitor and ancestor”, “Mary the wife of Cleophas” which means “Mary whose name means their rebellion who was the female spouse belonging to Cleophas whose name means my exchanges”, “and Mary Magdalene” or “and Mary, whose name means their rebellion, Magdalene which means a tower and identified her as from Magdala”. John shared how the “sister” of Jesus' mother Mary, Mary who was the female spouse of “Cleophas” and “Mary who was from Magdala” were also near the cross upon which Jesus hung.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how there were women near the cross of Jesus. His mother Mary, her sister, the wife of Cleophas named Mary and Mary Magdalene were all there. Though most of Jesus' disciples were no where to be found, these women were in attendance. God's plan of salvation for mankind was being fulfilled, and these women were among the personal witnesses who watched His Son Jesus die. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. These women were witnesses of Jesus' death, and those who yield themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God and become witnesses of His commitment to die on their behalf.
Next time John shares what Jesus did when He, “saw his mother”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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