There are many women named Mary in the New Testament of the Bible. One is identified by the names of her boys: Mary, the mother of James and Joseph. This Mary is one of a handful of women noted for following Jesus and caring for his needs. Like Salome, Joanna, and Susanna, we acknowledge Mary’s key role in Jesus’s ministry.
Referring to her as Mary the mother of James and Joseph may clarify her to first-century audiences, but it doesn’t help us much today, as we can only speculate who her sons are. However, it’s reasonable to assume her sons are noteworthy in the early church, which is commendable to her for raising godly boys.
Our children may be our biggest and most important legacy. May we do everything possible to raise them into godly men and women.
[Discover more about this Mary in Matthew 27:55–56, Mark 15:40–41, Mark 16:1, and Luke 24:1–11.]
Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in audiobook, e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
