Lives of Scripture

Salome is named twice in Mark's Gospel, both times among a small group of women who stayed near Jesus in His final hours. At the crucifixion, Mark records that "there were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and Joses, and Salome" -- women who had followed and ministered to Jesus back in Galilee and had come with Him to Jerusalem (Mark 15:40-41). Unlike the male disciples, who scattered, these women remained visible witnesses to the crucifixion, even from a distance. Very early on the first day of the week, Salome was one of the women who bought spices and went to the tomb to anoint Jesus's body, only to find the stone rolled away and to hear the angel's announcement that He had risen (Mark 16:1-6). Salome is often identified with the mother of James and John who elsewhere asks Jesus for places of honor for her sons (Matthew 20:20-23) -- if so, her steady presence at the cross and tomb stands in quiet contrast to that earlier request for status, showing a faith that outlasted ambition.