There are a number of women mentioned in the New Testament who ministered to Jesus. They were some of his strongest supporters. Without their help, it would have been more difficult for Jesus and the apostles to carry out their mission of spreading the gospel. Many times, it is the women who are the real heroes in many of the Bible stories.
1. There was Mary, who “followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him.” Matthew 27:55.
In Matthew’s gospel, she is mentioned as the mother of “James and Joses,” Matthew 27:56. In Mark’s gospel, she is mentioned as “mother of James the less and of Joses,” Mark 15:40. Then, in Luke’s gospel, she is identified as “The mother of James,” Luke 24:10, who seems to be the more distinguished of her two sons.
Finally, in John’s gospel, she is mentioned as “Mary the wife of Cleophas,” John 19:25. This Mary served Jesus in the hours of His greatest need. She was with those faithful few at the crucifixion of Jesus and “stood by the cross of Jesus,” John 19:25.
She was among those who watched from afar to see where Jesus would be buried, Mark 15:40. She was one of the first to visit the tomb on the morning of His resurrection as she “came to see the sepulchre,” Matthew 28:1.
It is said “in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,” she was among them that “brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him,” Mark 16:1.
She is one of those “who told these things unto the apostles,” Luke 24:10. This woman, the wife of Cleophas and mother of James the Less, had left her home and sought to follow Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem.
It seems she willingly wanted to follow him all the way to Jerusalem. She might not be able to do the work of an apostle, but she could minister to the Lord’s needs.
No doubt she was very proud that Jesus had chosen her son, James the Less, to be one of His apostles. She was a good woman who embodied all the qualities of the good wife spoken of in Proverbs 31:10-31.
2. Mary Magdalene.
She is mentioned fourteen times in the gospels. “Magdalene” refers to the town of Magdala, from which she came, Luke 8:2. Since medieval times, she has been one of the most maligned women in the New Testament. This is largely because some scholars of earlier years have chosen to identify her with the unnamed sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50.
The fact that she is mentioned in Luke 8:2 closely after the account of the sinful woman has caused some to assume they are one and the same woman. There is no way to positively identify Mary Magdalene as the sinful woman, Luke 7:37. We do know that she was possessed of seven demons, Luke 8:2.
We are not certain what effect this had on Mary, but the important thing is that she was healed by Jesus, Luke 8:2, and became one of His faithful and devoted followers. It was Mary Magdalene and two other women who came early Sunday morning to discover the empty tomb of Jesus, Matthew 28:1.
She is the first to report this to Peter and John. She said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him,” John 20:2.
The two disciples run to the tomb, John 20:4. After seeing it empty, it seems John “saw and believed,” John 20:8. Both went back to their places of abode, John 20:10. She evidently reached the tomb after they had left. Jesus now makes his first physical appearance, and it is to Mary Magdalene, John 20:11-18.
One of the most stirring narratives in literature is John’s description of Mary’s second visit to the empty tomb. This time she saw two angels in white sitting there, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, John 20:11-12.
It is interesting that the first word spoken inside that empty tomb was “Woman,” John 20:13. Then there followed the angels’ question: “Why weepest thou?” John 20:13.
She answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him,” John 20:3. Then she turned, and Jesus stood before her, John 20:14.
Not until He spoke her name, “Mary” did she recognize that is was Jesus, John 20:16. She is instructed to tell the disciples, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to God, and your God,” John 20:17.
Mary, awe stricken, hastened to tell the others that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her. It is significant that a woman is the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What a great honour.
3. Salome.
She is mentioned by name in Mark’s gospel, Mark 15:40. Her two sons belonged to the inner circle of disciples. She became ambitious for her sons to occupy prominent places in the kingdom of Jesus. Her request was, “Grant that these my two sons may sit, and one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom,” Matthew 20:21.
She was presumptuous enough to put her own human ambition for her sons, James and John, above their spiritual needs. She stands in contrast to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who never expressed any human ambition for her son. Even when great things were spoken to her about Him, she “pondered these things in her heart,” Luke 2:19.
We cannot be too severe on Salome, for she remained one of the most faithful followers of Jesus to the end. We remember her for the fact that she gave of her substance as well as herself during the ministry of Jesus.
4. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, a steward of Herod the Tetrarch, Luke 8:3.
She had been healed either of a sickness or an evil spirit, Luke 8:2. She is also one of the women who went to Jesus’ sepulchre to embalm the body of Jesus, Luke 24:10.
She, along with the other women, told the apostles that Christ had arisen, Luke 24:10. Although mention of her is brief we are convinced of the genuineness of her depth of love for Jesus and faithfulness in rendering service to Him.
5. Susanna mentioned in Luke 8:3.
She was one who ministered to Jesus of her substance. In Luke 8:2, she is mentioned among “certain women” who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.” Because she had been cured, she joyfully ministered of her substance and helped to spread the good news of Christ’s gospel, Luke 8:3.
6. The woman of Matthew 26:6-12.
Jesus said that her deed of anointing his body with fragrant oil would be told wherever the gospel would be preached. Matthew 27:55 tells us, “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.”
In the next verse, two of these women are named, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, Matthew 27:56. We can be sure that among these “many women” there were many other nameless women with them, Matthew 27:55.
They had followed Jesus to the cross because He had blessed them and healed them, and their gratitude was great. They did little but watch, but their watching had meaning and purpose. They showed unflinching courage and extreme faithfulness in remaining close to Jesus throughout the hours of His suffering upon the cross.
While many of these women were at the foot of the cross, Mark 15:40-41 / John 19:25-27, as far as we know, the apostle John was the only apostle or male there. These women were among the Lord’s most faithful followers.