The Husband at the Cross
Clopas is a New Testament figure whose significance is derived from the presence of his wife at the foot of the cross during the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His name appears in the Gospel of John, linking his family directly to the core witnesses of Christ’s final hours.
The Identification at the Crucifixion
The single biblical mention of Clopas identifies him through his wife, who was among the devoted women watching the agonizing events at Calvary:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25, KJV)
This verse is the subject of scholarly debate regarding the exact relationship between these women:
- Relationship to Mary, Jesus’ Mother: The common interpretation is that Mary, the wife of Clopas, was the sister of Jesus’ mother. If this is the case, Clopas was Jesus’ uncle by marriage, making his family part of Christ’s extended kinship.
- Wife of Cleopas? The name Clopas is generally considered distinct from Cleopas (the disciple on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24:18), although tradition and some early church fathers did conflate the two. The distinction is maintained today to preserve the details of the respective Gospel accounts.
The Family of Clopas
If the traditional view of kinship is correct, Clopas and his wife, Mary, are the parents of James the Less (James the son of Alphaeus, Matthew 10:3, KJV) and possibly other key figures in the early church.
- In this view, Clopas is often identified with Alphaeus (as Clopas and Alphaeus may be the same name transliterated from Aramaic/Greek in different ways).
- This connection would mean Clopas’s family contributed significantly to the core leadership of the early Church, including an Apostle (James the Less).
The Spiritual Significance
Clopas, through the witness of his wife, embodies the following spiritual principles:
- Fidelity at the Darkest Hour: His wife, Mary, remained at the cross, witnessing Christ’s suffering and death. This presence, alongside Mary Magdalene and the Lord’s mother, demonstrates an unwavering faith and loyalty when nearly all others (save John) had fled. This stands as the ultimate counter-example to the general apostasy of the disciples and the world.
- The Power of Proximity: The family of Clopas, through their kinship and presence, shows that those closest to Christ were the first to be called and the most steadfast in their devotion, a powerful reminder that spiritual intimacy fuels spiritual endurance.
Clopas and his family represent the quiet, faithful commitment that provides foundational support to the mission of the Anointed One, even when facing the hostility of the Roman world.