I ask one more time - are you saying that the Mary, mother of James and Joses in Mark 15:40 is not the mother of Jesus and was not present at the time?
There were THREE women named Mary at the Crucifixion of our Lord:
John 19:25 (multiple translations to be sure that there aren't any questions):Douay-Rheims
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.King James Version
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.New International Version
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Now, these are the woman Saint John (who, unlike Saints Matthew and Mark, was ALSO present and is speaking from his own personal experience and not what has been told to him) says was there:
1. Mary, the mother of God
2. Mary, the wife of Cleophas (and presumably the sister of the Blessed Mother, though it is possible that the sister is a fourth woman who is not named) and the mother of James and Joses
3. Mary Magdalene
Now, it seems to me that we have two choices:
1. We accept what Saint John wrote about the three Marys and conclude that Saints Matthew and Mark were only speaking of the two Marys being "afar off" and that they saw no need to mention that the mother of God was at the foot of the Cross with Saint John.
or
2. We determine that the Gospel of Saint John contradicts the Gospels of Saints Matthew and Mark. However, it must be pointed out that anyone who accepts this proposition must also be prepared to accept that EVERY VERSE in the Bible is false.
Keep in mind that Matthew 27:56 speaks of yet ANOTHER woman since it also mentions the mother of the sons of Zebedee and it has never been suggested that Saint James the Apostle and Saint John were relatives of Christ.
I run about a week behind answering. This gap is not going to improve. Rest assured, everybody, if you pose a serious question, I will answer. If you see that I caught up with posts more recent than yours, I somehow missed your post. Then remind me by freepmail and point to the post I missed.
are you saying that the Mary, mother of James and Joses in Mark 15:40 is not the mother of Jesus and was not present at the time?
Combining all accounts (specifically Mark's and John's) we understand that Mary the Mother of God and Evangelist John were at the foot of the Cross. Mary the mother of James and Joses and Salome who is also the wife of one Cleophas, as well as Mary Magdalene and unnamed other women, and the Centurion, were at some distance away but also present. Three Marys in all among the named ones.
Here's a traditional icon of the scene:
Mary the Mother of God, and St,. John are in the foreground, nimbed. There are three more women in the background behind Mary, that is the two other Marys and an unnamed woman. The centurion is farther to Christ's left. The icon also shows multiple angels.