Who is…
Mary

also known as: Maria or Miriam

Greek: Μαρίας

Hebrew: מִרְיָ֛ם —transliteration: Miryam or Miriam

Mary was the name of 6 Biblical women, if one does not include those called Miriam—the Hebrew version of the same name. Women called Mary include the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the sister of Lazarus, the wife of Cleopas, the mother of John Mark, and a Christian in Rome.

  1. Mary, mother of Jesus Christ

  2. Mary, wife of Alphaeus (aka Clopas and Cleopas

    Alphaeus (aka Cleopas and Clopas) is the father of James the lesser, the Apostle.

    This is one of the Marys who stood by Jesus Christ at his crucifixion.

    …standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. —John 19:25 excerpt

    Mary, the wife of Cleopas is mentioned (John 19:25) as standing at the cross in with Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Jesus.

    By comparing Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40, we find that this Mary and “Mary the mother of James the little” are one and the same person, and that she was the sister of our Lord’s mother.

    Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. —Matthew 27:56

    She was that “other Mary” who was present with Mary of Magdala at the burial of our Lord (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47), and she was one of those who went early in the morning of the first day of the week to anoint the body, and thus became one of the first witnesses of His resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1).

  3. Mary Magdalene

    This Mary was of Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. She is first mentioned in Luke 8:3 as one of the women who “ministered to Christ of their substance.” Their motive was that of gratitude for deliverances he had given them. He cast 7 demons out of Mary. Gratitude to her great Deliverer prompted her to become his follower.

    These women accompanied him also on his last journey to Jerusalem (Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:41; Luke 23:55). They stood near the cross. There Mary remained till all was over, and the body was taken down and laid in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb.

    Again, in the earliest dawn of the first day of the week she, with Salome and Mary the mother of James (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2), came to the sepulchre [tomb], bringing with them sweet spices, that they might anoint the body of Jesus.

    They found the sepulchre empty, but saw the “vision of angels” (Matthew 28:5).

    She hastened to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this time (John 20:1-2), and again immediately returns to the sepulchre. There she lingers thoughtfully, weeping at the door of the tomb. The risen Lord appears to her, but at first she knows him not. His utterance of her name “Mary” recalls her to consciousness, and she utters the joyful, reverent cry, “Rabboni.” She wanted to cling to Him, but He forbid her, saying,

    “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.”

    This is the last record regarding Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem.

  4. Mary the sister of Lazarus

    She is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with the visits of our Lord to the town of Bethany. She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was “cumbered about many things” while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen “the good part.”

    She also appears in connection with the death of her brother (John 11:20, 31, 33).

    On the occasion of our Lord's last visit to Bethany, Mary brought “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus” as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a leper (Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 12:2,3). This was an evidence of her overflowing love to the Lord.

    Nothing is known of her subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary’s, and from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault (11:38), and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to console them on the death of Lazarus (11:19), that this family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.

  5. Mary the mother of John Mark

    This Mary is the mother of one of the earliest disciples of our Lords. She was the sister of Barnabas (Col.4:10), and joined with him in disposing of their land and giving the proceeds of the sale to the Church (Acts 4:37; 12:12).

    Her house in Jerusalem was the common meeting-place for the disciples there.

  6. Mary, a Christian at Rome

    This Mary treated Paul with special kindness (Romans 16:6).

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Article Version: July 13, 2024