Women Followed Jesus: Mary, the wife of Clopas

Mary was a popular name during Biblical times and remains a popular name today. Hence, to defferentate the various Mary’s there are relationships mentioned.  This is true for Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses and Mary the wife of Clopas.

The name Mary means bitter, beloved, rebelliousness, and wished-for-child.

Jerusalem

Mary, the wife of Clopas is only mentioned twice in scripture, but both are very informative. The first mention is found in Luke 24:18, “And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”

Her husband Clopas or Cleophas is mentioned both times, but who was Cleophas? Early church leaders writings have led historians to believe he was the brother to Joseph, who was Jesus earthly father. Cleophas had a son, Simeon, who became the second Bishop of Jerusaleum.

Joseph and Mary

If we look at the next passage, we discover Mary the wife of Cleophas is mentioned as the sister of Jesus mother.  The two were married to brothers and may have been as close as sisters, explaining why they were mentioned as sisters. 

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”  {John 19:25}

Mary, wife of Cleophas, was a follower of Jesus and as we see in John 19, present at the foot of the cross during the crucifixion.

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