As a Student of Scripture, I stumbled upon a factual situation that happened at the final hours & final minutes of Yahshua's (Jesus) torturous and painful moments on earth.
Details of the death of Yahshua (Jesus) are described in all the 4 Gospels:
Ø Mark 15:33 to 16:8 Ø Matthew 27:52 to 28:20 Ø Luke 23:44 to 24:12 Ø John 19:29 to 20:18
Who exactly was AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS or very close to Yahshua (Jesus) in his last dying moments?
1. Mary Magdalene (mentioned by Matthew, Mark, and John)
2. Mary the mother of James and Joses (mentioned by Matthew and Mark)
3. The mother of Zebedee's sons (mentioned by Matthew)
4. Salome (mentioned by Mark) -- Many scholars think that this is the same person as (3), the mother of Zebedee's sons
5. Mary the mother of Jesus (mentioned by John)
6. Mary the wife of Clophas (who was probably Joseph's brother) (mentioned by John)
7. An un-named sister of Jesus' mother (mentioned by John) -- Many scholars think that this is the same person as (6), i.e., the wife of Clophas
8. The un-named Beloved Disciple (mentioned by John) What about the 12 Apostles? Eleven of the twelve apostles are not seen at the cross. By now, Judas had killed himself, and thus ten of the 11 apostles did not show up. Only John went the entire distance . . . he was standing there quietly and mutely & was thus being a witness to a mega event in the happening. Among the many early Christian Men, the very first followers (Christians) of Christ, John the Gospel writer seems to be one of the very few men who showed exemplary braveness and courage to be right at the forefront or the epicenter of a very important event that is at the nailing or execution of Christ.
About Gospel writers Mathew, Mark & Luke From the Crucifixion accounts of the above 3 Gospel writers, one can come to a safe conclusion that they were viewing the event of the crucifixion from a safe distance and possibly from three separate vantage points.
Who Was at the Cross?
The gospel descriptions of the crucifixion appear to be eyewitness accounts. But who were the witnesses? According to Matthew 26:56, all the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested, and most of them probably stayed away from the crucifixion out of fear of their own arrest. John 18:15-27 says that Peter's fear of arrest caused him to repeatedly deny that he even knew Jesus. The crucifixion took place at a location called Golgotha, which was probably just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Most likely it was beside a road leading out from one of the city's gates. Thus the followers (earliest Christians) of Jesus would have been able to get there very easily. But who actually went there? To try to answer this question, we first need to look at what each gospel says about the matter:
Brief Synopsis of all the 4 Gospel Writers Vantage Views of the Crucifixion.
Gospel of Matthew According to this gospel, the various witnesses included Roman soldiers, Jewish officials, passersby who mocked Jesus and two men (supposedly criminal) crucified at the same time. The only reference to followers of Jesus is found in Matthew 27:55-56, which says that many women were "watching from a distance", and specifically names "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons."
Gospel of Mark The account in this gospel is very similar to that in Matthew.
In fact most biblical scholars believe that Matthew copied most of his account from Mark. In any case, Mark 15:40-41 also says that many women watched from a distance and specifically mentions "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."
Gospel of Luke
The author of this gospel also apparently copied most of his account of the crucifixion from Mark. The only mention of Jesus' followers is in Luke 23:49, which says that some of them watched from a distance, but doesn't give any names.
Gospel of John
The account in this gospel differs considerably from the other three. It says that several women and one disciple stood "near the cross", and that Jesus spoke to them from the cross. The women are identified as Jesus' mother Mary, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clophas (or Cleophas), and Mary Magdalene. The disciple is identified only as "the disciple whom Jesus loved". This is probably his blood brother James; though his identity still is a subject of considerable debate. (James D. Tabor argues that the beloved disciple is Jesus' brother James. One of several pieces of evidence Tabor offers is a literal interpretation of John 19:26, "Then when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son.")
So in Conclusion……..
Every true Christian must in difficult & dangerous situations too, be Bold & Brave like the many Biblical women such as Mary, the Mother of Yehoshua (Jesus), Mary, the Sister of Virgin Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene standing shoulder to shoulder in difficult and excusable situations & times too. Also the courageous effort of Gospel writer John and the disciple whom Jesus loved, possibly James, their courage at the cross of crucifixion is worth imitating and emulating too.
Regarding, Characteristics of a Real Christian, I find this one particular scripture that says it all: 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV 13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” NIV (Emphasis applied is mine) To be "Bold & Brave", not having fear of the WORLD but having reverent fear of the LORD Yahweh is a "Real Characteristic" of a Christian.
Details of the death of Yahshua (Jesus) are described in all the 4 Gospels:
Ø Mark 15:33 to 16:8 Ø Matthew 27:52 to 28:20 Ø Luke 23:44 to 24:12 Ø John 19:29 to 20:18
Who exactly was AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS or very close to Yahshua (Jesus) in his last dying moments?
1. Mary Magdalene (mentioned by Matthew, Mark, and John)
2. Mary the mother of James and Joses (mentioned by Matthew and Mark)
3. The mother of Zebedee's sons (mentioned by Matthew)
4. Salome (mentioned by Mark) -- Many scholars think that this is the same person as (3), the mother of Zebedee's sons
5. Mary the mother of Jesus (mentioned by John)
6. Mary the wife of Clophas (who was probably Joseph's brother) (mentioned by John)
7. An un-named sister of Jesus' mother (mentioned by John) -- Many scholars think that this is the same person as (6), i.e., the wife of Clophas
8. The un-named Beloved Disciple (mentioned by John) What about the 12 Apostles? Eleven of the twelve apostles are not seen at the cross. By now, Judas had killed himself, and thus ten of the 11 apostles did not show up. Only John went the entire distance . . . he was standing there quietly and mutely & was thus being a witness to a mega event in the happening. Among the many early Christian Men, the very first followers (Christians) of Christ, John the Gospel writer seems to be one of the very few men who showed exemplary braveness and courage to be right at the forefront or the epicenter of a very important event that is at the nailing or execution of Christ.
About Gospel writers Mathew, Mark & Luke From the Crucifixion accounts of the above 3 Gospel writers, one can come to a safe conclusion that they were viewing the event of the crucifixion from a safe distance and possibly from three separate vantage points.
Who Was at the Cross?
The gospel descriptions of the crucifixion appear to be eyewitness accounts. But who were the witnesses? According to Matthew 26:56, all the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested, and most of them probably stayed away from the crucifixion out of fear of their own arrest. John 18:15-27 says that Peter's fear of arrest caused him to repeatedly deny that he even knew Jesus. The crucifixion took place at a location called Golgotha, which was probably just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Most likely it was beside a road leading out from one of the city's gates. Thus the followers (earliest Christians) of Jesus would have been able to get there very easily. But who actually went there? To try to answer this question, we first need to look at what each gospel says about the matter:
Brief Synopsis of all the 4 Gospel Writers Vantage Views of the Crucifixion.
Gospel of Matthew According to this gospel, the various witnesses included Roman soldiers, Jewish officials, passersby who mocked Jesus and two men (supposedly criminal) crucified at the same time. The only reference to followers of Jesus is found in Matthew 27:55-56, which says that many women were "watching from a distance", and specifically names "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons."
Gospel of Mark The account in this gospel is very similar to that in Matthew.
In fact most biblical scholars believe that Matthew copied most of his account from Mark. In any case, Mark 15:40-41 also says that many women watched from a distance and specifically mentions "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome."
Gospel of Luke
The author of this gospel also apparently copied most of his account of the crucifixion from Mark. The only mention of Jesus' followers is in Luke 23:49, which says that some of them watched from a distance, but doesn't give any names.
Gospel of John
The account in this gospel differs considerably from the other three. It says that several women and one disciple stood "near the cross", and that Jesus spoke to them from the cross. The women are identified as Jesus' mother Mary, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clophas (or Cleophas), and Mary Magdalene. The disciple is identified only as "the disciple whom Jesus loved". This is probably his blood brother James; though his identity still is a subject of considerable debate. (James D. Tabor argues that the beloved disciple is Jesus' brother James. One of several pieces of evidence Tabor offers is a literal interpretation of John 19:26, "Then when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son.")
So in Conclusion……..
Every true Christian must in difficult & dangerous situations too, be Bold & Brave like the many Biblical women such as Mary, the Mother of Yehoshua (Jesus), Mary, the Sister of Virgin Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene standing shoulder to shoulder in difficult and excusable situations & times too. Also the courageous effort of Gospel writer John and the disciple whom Jesus loved, possibly James, their courage at the cross of crucifixion is worth imitating and emulating too.
Regarding, Characteristics of a Real Christian, I find this one particular scripture that says it all: 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV 13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” NIV (Emphasis applied is mine) To be "Bold & Brave", not having fear of the WORLD but having reverent fear of the LORD Yahweh is a "Real Characteristic" of a Christian.