Mary is one of the most talked about women in the Bible, as God used her to bring his only son Jesus Christ onto the earth. This was a noble task for Mary, meaning she sacrificed her early life to care for Jesus. She would also spend time with Jesus, even when he started his ministry. This leads us to the question, “how old was Mary when Jesus was crucified?”
It is impossible to know the exact age Mary was when Jesus was crucified, as there is no record of it in the Bible. However, most religious scholars suggest that Mary was in her late forties or early fifties when Jesus was crucified.
So, was Mary alive when Jesus was crucified? Does the Bible specify Mary’s age when Jesus died? How can we estimate Mary’s age when Jesus died? Was Mary a widow when Jesus died? Where was Mary when Jesus was crucified? How long did Mary live after Jesus was crucified? Stick around to know the answers to these questions.
Was Mary alive when Jesus was crucified?
Mary was still living when Jesus was crucified, as the Bible reveals that she was at the place Jesus was crucified. The book of John 19:25-27 reveals that Jesus’ mother, Mary, and her sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene, were standing close to Jesus’ cross. This only means that Mary had not yet died at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Additionally, we know from the Bible that Mary was still alive when Jesus was crucified, as she was present with other disciples in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It is also believed that she lived a few more years after Jesus’ death before she passed.
Does the Bible specify Mary’s age when Jesus died?
The Bible did not specify Mary’s age when Jesus died. The Bible only mentions that Mary was present at the cross of Jesus together with other women. The Bible also reveals how Jesus gave his beloved disciple the responsibility of caring for her as he died. However, several bible scholars have implied that Mary could have been around 47 to 50 years at the time of Jesus’ death. Many had come to this conclusion by adding the years Mary would have most likely to have given birth to Jesus to the years in which Jesus had when died.
How can we estimate Mary’s age when Jesus died?
Most theologians and historians who have been able to guess Mary’s age at the time of Jesus’ death have used the age at which Jesus died plus the age at which Mary gave birth to him. Although the Bible did not specify the age of Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, scholars had suggested that she might have been in her early teen.
In the Jewish customs during Mary’s time, girls were engaged to their future husbands when they matured and were in a position to give birth. Most girls were betrothed from the age of 13 years to sixteen years and would then get married a few months or a year after the engagement.
Suppose Mary was engaged to Joseph when she was 13. It is most likely she gave birth to Jesus at 14 or 15 years, depending on the time she got pregnant for Jesus. We already know that Jesus died at the age of 33 years, as he started his ministry at about thirty years, which lasted for three years.
To find the age at which Mary was when Jesus died, we will take the age at which she gave birth, 15, and the age of Jesus when he died, which is 33 years. From this calculation, we can say that Mary was 48 years when Jesus died. She could also have been two years younger or older than 48.
Was Mary a widow when Jesus died?
Most scholars agree that Joseph probably died when Jesus died, as his mention in the Bible ends before Jesus started his ministry. Joseph is last mentioned in the Bible in Luke 2:42-52 when Jesus was left in the temple during the Passover festival. The Bible reveals that Jesus was left back in the temple, and his parents did not know about it. They were forced to go back and search for him, in which they found him seated among the Jewish teachers, listening to the word and asking questions. After this incident, the Bible never mentions Joseph again.
Moreover, there is a possibility that Mary was a widow, as Jesus commanded his disciple to take care of him when he was on the cross. There are fewer chances that Mary could have gone to live with John if her husband Joseph was still alive. John 19:26-27 says, “Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is your mother.” From that time, the disciple took her to his home.”
Where was Mary when Jesus was crucified?
Mary was probably around the area where Jesus was crucified, as the Bible mentions that she was standing close to Jesus’ cross in the book of John. It could have been possible that she could not have wanted to watch the whole process of crucifixion, as it was hard for her as a mother to watch his son being tortured. However, for Jesus to be able to talk to her and John, she must have been close enough to support him through his last hours on earth. All in all, Mary showed bravery in standing with Jesus throughout his journey on earth.
How long did Mary live after Jesus was crucified?
It is unclear how long Mary lived after Jesus was crucified, as the Bible does not speak of it. Some scholars have suggested that Mary lived for a few more years after she died, but this is only based on assumptions. No one knows how old Mary was when she died or how long she lived after Jesus’ death. Christians are, however, encouraged not to focus on that but to emulate her selfless act and submission to God to use her.
References
How old was Mary when Jesus was crucified?
What happened to Mary, the mother of Jesus, after the crucifixion?
How old was Mary when Jesus died?
Was Jesus’ mother Mary at his crucifixion?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
