Big Island Baptist Church

Salome: How does God define success?

Success, in a worldly view, is often described in terms of power, prestige and material items.  There is pressure on all of us to live this way.  I graduated from a wonderful University and several of my friends have gone on to lead lives by this definition.  They have travelled the world, made big names for themselves and seem to have everything they desire.  While I wish them happiness, I often read the alumni magazine thinking what have I accomplished?

The pressure to live this way is not limited to the world, however.  There is a concept that gained popularity in the 90s called “prosperity theology.” It is the idea that God rewards the faithful with material prosperity.  Even biblical figures struggled with this dilemma, which we see through the life of Salome.

Unlike Rachel and Leah, there is no one story about Salome.  In order to find her story, we must do a little bit of detective work.  And we first discover her through her children.  (Don’t worry, we’ll refer back to this scripture in a minute.)

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22 NIV

These are 2 of the 12 disciples who were called by Jesus.  But He had more than these 12 followers.  There was also had a group of women followers who helped out.  I had never really thought of it this before, but it makes perfect sense.  After all, could 13 men really survive on their own?

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others.  These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3 NIV

We learn who some these other women are when they witness the crucifixion.

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.  Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Matthew 27:55-56

Remember, Zebedee’s sons are James and John who left the fishing boat to follow Jesus.  Finally, Salome is identified by name at the most important event of the Bible, the resurrection.  Those same three ladies returned to the tomb to prepare the body of Jesus for burial only to find that it was no longer there.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’  body.  Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:1-7

I learned of an interesting theory when I was preparing this study that Salome may also be Mary’s sister.  I had never heard it before, and it is a highly debated theory.  But the argument is scripturally based.  In the gospel of John, the list of women at the cross is defined yet another way.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

The debate is over what John meant by “Mary the wife of Clopas.” Is this a description of “his mother’s sister,” or is it another person in the list.  If it is read as another person in the list, then some scholars compare the scriptures and deduce that “his mother’s sister” can only mean Salome.

Remember, the disciple whom he loved is John, Salome’s son!  If Salome is Mary’s sister, then she is Jesus’ aunt and John is his first cousin.  I haven’t decided what I think yet, but this would make several things make sense—their close relationship, James and John’s willingness to follow so easily, and his asking John to care for his mother.  Just some food for thought.

Whatever the extended family relationship, it is well accepted that Salome is the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John.  And to them, following God was a family affair.¹

If you read Matthew 4:21-22 in isolation, it seems as if Jesus showed up out of nowhere and James and John picked up and left.  This has always seemed hard to swallow for me.  (And if you are a fan of Lost, you know that following someone blindly never ends well…)

But when you read this scene in the larger context, you realize that this would not have been the first time they had heard of Jesus, and maybe even not the first time they had met him.  Remember, John the Baptist had already been in the area preaching to “prepare the way.”  Jesus had also been active in the area before, preaching and recruiting disciples.

In addition, we see that the whole family is faithful.  Their father allowed them to leave the family business and even allowed his wife to leave the household to support the ministry physically.  This was a huge step of faith for that time.  We also read in Luke 8:3, that as a follower of Jesus, Salome supported his ministry financially.  And her money would have been the family’s money because she likely wouldn’t have had a means of generating income herself.

This family was faithful to the end.  James and John were some of the first disciples called.  Salome was there at the crucifixion and at the resurrection, and John continued to preach the gospel into old age.

But, here is another mind-bending thought, if the sons and the mother were all followers of Jesus, who started following him first?  The Bible doesn’t say.  But did Jesus call the brothers and the Mom followed along or was the Mom already following when he approached them?  (Remember the Bible was written and has been preached mainly by men so it is only natural for us to think of men being the first ones called—and I’ll stop there before I cause too much more controversy.)

Either way, you cannot deny that Salome must have had a great impact on the faith of her children.  And that is a responsibility that all Christian mothers have.  When I was going through a soul searching period a few years ago, I read somewhere that when you are a mother, your children are “your mission field.” I try to live like this every day.  It doesn’t matter how much I do for others, if my children aren’t a part of the Kingdom of God, I’ve missed it.

After several months of following Jesus, we see that Salome expected great things for her sons (perhaps she always did) and she began to buy into that worldly idea of success and apply it to the Kingdom of God.²

It is not completely out of left field.  After all, James and John were part of Jesus’s innermost circle.  He even had a specific nickname for them—the “Sons of Thunder.”  (And if she is Mary’s sister, they were also family, and we all know that blood is thicker than water.)  They, along with Peter, were witnesses to some extraordinary events: the raising of a synagogue leader’s dead daughter (Mark 5:35-37), the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3), and later, Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).

On top of this special relationship, she was a faithful contributor of both time and money.  She had invested much in His ministry, so, why shouldn’t she ask for more for her sons?  That’s exactly what she did.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.  “What is it you want?”  he asked.  She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”   “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them.  “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”  “We can,”  they answered.  Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant.  These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” Matthew 20:20-24

Salome wanted that power and prestige that the world so often seeks.  The disciples still thought at that time that Jesus was a great conqueror.  They were faithful followers but they didn’t quite understand the whole picture and thought that He would establish His kingdom on earth.  Jesus was quick to point out that they did not understand.  Instead of power, they would receive persecution.  James was one of the first disciples to be killed (Acts 12:2).  John lived to be old but he was exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:9).

To their credit, they did say that they were willing to take the cup—but did they understand what they were agreeing to?  Just imagine how Salome felt as she witnessed the crucifixion.  She had asked that her sons be on his right and left and then she watched the men on his right and left die agonizing deaths.³

Interestingly, the idea may not have begun with Salome, but with James and John.  In Mark’s account, (Mark 10:35-40) they make the request themselves.  Even in Matthew’s account, James and John are present and immediately following the request, Jesus addresses them directly.  Older women were respected in the culture and were often allowed to ask questions that others were not.  (Such as the persistent widow in Luke 18:2-5.)

When the 10 other disciples heard about this request, they were upset, “indignant” in fact.  None of them understood what it meant to be the greatest.  To God, being the greatest means to make yourself the least.

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:24-28

It is easy to fall into the trap of seeking status—in the world and even in the church.  But God is not impressed by how much you have or control, but by how much you do for his kingdom.  He even says to do it in secret.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

So, you have to give up on the world’s view of success, help others and then not talk about it.  That is a really tall order!  After I have given and given, I often find myself saying “what’s the point if no one notices.” But God says that He is the only one who needs to notice.  (I just have to remind myself of that all the time.)

The Bible is full of God’s promises of rewards, on earth and in heaven.  Jesus speaks of the eternal reward as a treasure.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.” Matthew 6:16-18

This is a hard concept to grasp in our world where we are seeking to gain the next big thing.  We want instant gratification.  Jesus isn’t saying to not prepare for the future, but there is a difference between accumulating wealth and being prepared.  He tells us that we should put more effort into preparing for our eternal life than our future life.   Sometimes when I’m frustrated I tell myself I am collecting “stars for my crown.”

Jesus also speaks to those, like the disciples and women who followed him, who leave their homes for His ministry.

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:26-30

This verse is especially comforting to me.  When you are in the ministry, you do not choose your homeplace, God does.  As a result, you have to leave your family.  Our closest grandparents are more than an hour away.  This can make life difficult at times.  But, our children’s lives have been richly blessed with their “adopted”  grandmas.  And our lives have been blessed by the people we have met and the friends we have made.

This points us back to Salome.   She was rewarded richly in life.  She followed Jesus on a daily basis, hearing his words first hand.  But even better, she was one of the first to learn of the resurrection. (Matthew 16:1-6)  Can you imagine that?  What a privilege!  This privilege is available to us as well.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Ephesians 3:19-20

That power is there.  I think that too often it is fear that holds us back from that power.  Stepping out on faith is frightening.  Giving up your home is frightening.  Speaking out for Jesus is frightening.  There is fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, fear of change, even fear of what I call too much goodness.

Thankfully, Salome and her family did not let that fear hold them back.  They chose to follow Jesus (literally!) to the end, and lives were changed with their help.

¹ Amber Albee Swenson, Bible Moms (Sisters, Oregon: Trusted Books, VMI Publishers), 2007) p. 145

² Amber Albee Swenson, Bible Moms (Sisters, Oregon: Trusted Books, VMI Publishers), 2007) p. 146

³ Spangler, Ann and Syswerda, Jean E., Women of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan:Zondervan,2007) p. 374