Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 15:40

"And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom [were] both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;" — Mark 15:40 (ASV)

Women too were present at the Crucifixion, but they kept their distance. Mark identifies three of these women: Mary Magdalene, another Mary, and Salome. Mary Magdalene (i.e., Mary of Magdala) is mentioned only here in Mark (cf. Lk 8:2). The second Mary is designated as the “mother of James the younger and Joses.” Although little is known about her, her sons were apparently well known in the early church. The third woman Mark mentions here is Salome, Zebedee’s wife and the mother of James and John (cf. Matthew 27:56). These three women had been with Jesus in Galilee and had served him there. They had come up to Jerusalem, along with many other women, especially to be with him and serve him.