Exile and Legacy- The Fate of Mary and Joseph in the Wake of Jesus’ Crucifixion
What happened to Mary and Joseph after Jesus was crucified remains a topic of intrigue and speculation among scholars and believers alike. The New Testament provides limited information about the fate of these two key figures in the life of Jesus, leaving much to the imagination.
After the crucifixion of Jesus, the Bible recounts that Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus in his own tomb. Mary, along with other women who had followed Jesus, witnessed the crucifixion and burial. Once the tomb was sealed, the women returned home to mourn and prepare for the upcoming Jewish Sabbath.
The Gospels of Matthew and Mark mention that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome visited the tomb on the first day of the week, only to find it empty. An angel appeared to them, announcing that Jesus had risen from the dead. Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph are not explicitly mentioned in these accounts.
In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus on the road to Emmaus, but Joseph is not mentioned. However, John does mention that Mary, along with the other disciples, were present in the upper room where Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. This suggests that Mary and Joseph may have been among the disciples who witnessed the resurrection.
The book of Acts provides a glimpse into the post-resurrection life of Mary. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the disciples, including Mary, returned to Jerusalem. They continued to worship and pray together, and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them on the day of Pentecost. Mary is mentioned as one of the believers who were present in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
It is believed that Mary and Joseph, along with other disciples, spent the remainder of their lives spreading the message of Jesus and the resurrection. The apostle Peter refers to Mary as “a daughter of the church” in his first letter, indicating that she was a devoted follower of Jesus.
While the exact details of Mary and Joseph’s lives after the resurrection remain unknown, it is clear that they played significant roles in the early Christian community. Their dedication to Jesus and the faith they shared in His resurrection helped to lay the foundation for the growth of the Christian church.
