Who Was With Jesus When He Was On The Cross?

Who was with Jesus when He died on the cross?

Before the Cross

When the Jewish leaders came heavily armed to arrest Jesus while He was still in the Garden of Gethsemane, only Peter took up a sword, even though Jesus did tell him to put it down, and “Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered” (Matt 26:57) but “Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end” (Matt 26:58). I don’t want to be unfair to Peter. I’d probably follow at a distance and likely deny Him three times (or more?) because of the fear of being arrested and treated like Jesus was. Peter at least stayed close and took a risk being recognized, but in the end, he denied Jesus three times and fled because of shame and sorrow (Matt 26:69-74). When “Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt 26:75). Now, everybody had forsaken Jesus, just as the Zechariah the Prophet wrote “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones” (Zech 13:7) and like sheep, Jesus’ disciples scattered, running for their lives. The conclusion from all of these Scriptures is that at the cross, Jesus had Peter “at a distance” and likely His mother, Mary and a very young disciple name John.

At the Cross

The Scriptures are silent as to whether “the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee” (Matt 27:56) were there as they were after Jesus’ death. If they were there after Jesus’ death, it would seem reasonable that they were at or near the cross. We do know that the Apostle-to-be, John was there that during the crucifixion just as Jesus’ mother was because just before Jesus died, “Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27). This is obviously the Apostle John. Finally, there “standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). So it’s Jesus’ mother, John, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and perhaps even the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, which sons were James and John.

Others at the Cross

So far, we know that “Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” was at the cross (John 19:25) and so was Jesus’ mother and John (John 19:26-27) as well as Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and perhaps even the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee but we also must remember the Jewish leadership was there, at least for a time. There were also countless spectators, who a week earlier had been praising Him, shouting out loud, “Hosanna in the Highest” (Matt 21:9) but suddenly turned to “crucify Him!” Also present were the Roman soldiers and these men were professional killers. When they declared Him legally dead (John 19:33), all doubt was remove. “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt 27:54) so there were obviously some Romans who believed that Jesus was the Son of God as they were eye witnesses of the crucifixion. We also know that there were at least two criminals where Jesus placed in the middle. One of the thief’s reviled Jesus (Luke 23:39) “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40-41). After that the thief “said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).

Conclusion

Jesus’ death satisfied the wrath of God but only for those who’ve repented and put their trust in Christ. None are good and none seek after God (Room 3:10-12) and we all fall infinitely short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23; 6:23a) so we need help so God offers the free gift of eternal life (Rom 6:23b), without cost (Eph 2:8-9) to all who humble themselves before Him.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.