As we journey toward the cross this Lenten season, enter Holy Week and then celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, we encounter several biblical characters who share the same name: Mary.

Perhaps the most well-known is Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who stands at the heart of the New Testament narrative. She is front and center at the birth of the Messiah and returns to the foreground at the cross. However, other Marys appear in the story of Jesus across the four Gospels.

Matthew first introduces us to Mary, the mother of Jesus. As the narrative progresses, we meet Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus who is present at the crucifixion and becomes the first witness to the resurrection. Mary Magdalene is uniquely named in all four Gospels (interestingly, the Gospel of John never refers to Jesus’s mother by name). A third Mary appears in Matthew’s account—initially identified as the mother of James and Joseph and later referred to simply as “the other Mary.”

In Mark, Jesus is identified as a carpenter, the son of Mary. As the Gospel unfolds, we again meet Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joses. The Joseph in Matthew and the Joses in Mark may refer to the same person. Mark later references this Mary again—once identified as the mother of James and, alternatively, once identified the mother of Joses.

The Gospel of Luke offers the most detail about Jesus’s birth and childhood, giving special attention to Mary, his mother. Luke also introduces another Mary—the sister of Martha. More on her in a moment. Then, following the resurrection, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James (without mention of Joseph/Joses), bring the news to the disciples.

The Evangelist John never calls Jesus’s mother by name. Instead, the first Mary he names is part of a family in Bethany—Mary, her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus, close friends of Jesus. At the foot of the cross, John tells us three Marys are present: the mother of Jesus (unnamed), Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Clopas (Was Clopas the father of James and Joseph/Joses? Or are we meeting yet another Mary?).

Altogether, the Gospels introduce us to perhaps five Marys: the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, the mother of James and Joseph/Joses, and possibly another Mary—the wife of Clopas. While the Old Testament does not mention anyone named Mary, the Acts of the Apostles refers to Mary, the mother of John Mark, as a supporter of the early Christian community. Paul asks greetings to a woman named Mary in his letter to the Romans—whether the same person or another is unclear.

This Sunday, the Gospel message highlights the extravagant love of Mary of Bethany, who anoints Jesus just before his arrest. Join us as we reflect on the powerful witness she offers. We worship this Sunday, April 6, at 9:30 AM. A worship bulletin is attached.

Blessings,

Pastor Marc