Follower of Jesus and witness to the crucifixion and empty tomb
Mary, mother of James the Less
Also called Mary, mother of James and Joses, Mary the wife of Clopas
One of the women who followed Jesus from Galilee, watched the crucifixion from a distance, and went to the tomb on the first Easter morning.
Life and work
Mary, mother of James the Less (also called James the Younger) and of Joses, is named among the women who had followed and supported Jesus's ministry in Galilee and who stood watching, at a distance, when he was crucified (Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:56). She was also among the women who saw where Jesus was buried and returned to the tomb on the first day of the week with spices, becoming one of the first witnesses to the resurrection (Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:10). Some scholars identify her with "Mary the wife of Clopas," who John places at the foot of the cross (John 19:25), though the Gospels never explicitly connect the two names, so the identification remains a reasonable guess rather than a certainty.
Extra-biblical evidence
No extra-biblical record of this Mary survives outside the Gospels.
Scripture references
- Mark 15:40 — Watches the crucifixion from a distance
- Mark 16:1 — Brings spices to the tomb
- Matthew 27:56 — Named among the women present at the cross
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