top of page

What's in a name?

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Mark 16.1


Jesus was among the most popular names in 1st century Palestine. It means God saves. Without doubt most popular female name was Mary. The second most popular was Salome, which is from the Hebrew meaning, peaceful. There is irony here because the Salome, who is mentioned above, is believed to have been mother to those sons of thunder, the apostles James and John! She is also numbered among those who accompanied Jesus throughout his ministry. The fact that she is mentioned without further explanation may imply that, when the Gospels were written, she was sufficiently well-known to require no introduction. What a woman she must have been. It prompts us to consider those known to us, who have blessed and guided us our way and whose name deserves its own mention in despatches.

6 views

Comments


Archive
bottom of page