Who Was At The Cross?

A person sent me an e-mailed with these questions a couple of weeks ago.

 

Here is something you can use for your blog.  Which apostles went to the crucifixion?  John went and became Mary’s son.  Simon carried the cross but there is talk of him coming from the country.  Mathew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of the crucifixion.  So, who all went to the crucifixion?

 

          The crucifixion is in all four of the gospels.  Of course, the stories are different, but they all talk about the death of Jesus.  The first three gospels do talk about Simon.  However, this is not Simon Peter the apostle.  I will take the verse from Matthew 27:32.  “As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.”  In the notes of my Bible, it states that Cyrenaica on the northern coast of Africa is a Roman province.  Simon either was living in Palestine at the time or had come for Passover on pilgrimage.  He was just a guy in the crowd that the Romans forced to carry the cross with a very common name.  In Mark 15:21 we can learn he is the father of Alexander and Rufus.  No new information is given about Simon in Luke. 

          As for who was at the cross, in Matthew they only talk about the soldiers and many women including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.  Mark accounts for soldiers, chief priests, passersby, Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of the younger James, Joses, and Salome, and other women followers of Jesus.  Luke gives less detail.  He talks of the rulers and a centurion.  He also states that people gathered to see what happened and that the women followers of Jesus were present.  The gospel of John is the only account of Jesus’ mother being at the crucifixion and his disciple John.  Jesus lovingly bestows upon the two a new mother/son relationship.  In this account it is said Mary’s sister was with them as were Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala.

          In the end, these are the only people accountable to witnessing the death of Jesus in the Bible.  The majority of his closest friends failed to support him in the end proving humanities weakness.  The writings came not from firsthand knowledge but from a retelling of the story. 

          Blessings to you all.