Salome Wife of Zebedee

Before Jesus began his public ministry, when he lived and worked at the Zebedee home for more than a year (January 21 CE to March 22 CE), Salome and her family became great admirers and provided unwavering support for him. When Jesus decided to leave the Zebedee home and begin his travels, he planned to first visit the Jerusalem Temple during Passover of 22 CE. Salome was a relative of Annas, a one-time high priest at Jerusalem. As Jesus departed, she gave him a letter of reference, which served as an introduction to Annas.

After extensive travel, Jesus returned to Palestine in 26 CE to begin his public ministry. It was at that time that Salome and Zebedee moved to their son David’s residence so that their large home could be turned over to Jesus and his twelve apostles. Salome’s home at Bethsaida served as the headquarters of Jesus for the remainder of his life, and she was always in attendance there, seeing to the needs of others. It was also at this home that her son David based his messenger service, a communications network for Jesus and his apostles. On one occasion, in May of 29 CE, Salome spent three days caring for two apostles who were afflicted with an acute digestive disturbance. On the third night, Jesus arrived and relieved her, taking on the support of his suffering apostles.

At an encampment near Pella on Sunday afternoon, March 12, 30 CE, about a month before Jesus died, Salome approached him. With her sons at her side, Salome sought to have Jesus’ promise in advance to grant whatever request she might make. But the Master would not promise; instead, he asked her, "What do you want me to do for you?" Salome replied: "Master, now that you are going up to Jerusalem to establish the kingdom, I would ask you in advance to promise me that these my sons shall have honor with you, the one to sit on your right hand and the other to sit on your left hand in your kingdom."

Jesus was disappointed that she and his closest apostles didn’t understand his mission, which was to establish a spiritual kingdom, not a political one. He said to them, in part: “…to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give. Such honors are reserved for those who have been designated by my Father.” James and John apologized, and Salome, at the crucifixion, remembered the foolish request she had made of Jesus regarding the honors she so unwisely sought for her apostle sons.

As Jesus hung on the cross, he was attended by his mother Mary, his sister Ruth, his brother Jude, John Zebedee, Salome Zebedee, and a group of earnest women believers. Salome and these other friends of Jesus held their peace and gazed upon his intense sufferings, witnessing his great patience and fortitude. Jesus requested that John and Jude take Mary away. Salome and the other women stayed nearby until he died and was taken down for burial.

Two days later, before sunrise on the morning of April 9, Salome and four other women went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body. Myrrh was one of the resins that they intended to use, and this is why Salome and the others are sometimes referred to as “myrrhbearers.” They did not complete their mission; when they arrived at the open tomb, the body was gone and only the grave cloths remained.

After discovering the empty tomb, as they pondered where his body had been taken, Jesus appeared to them. Salome and the other four women were the first to see and hear the resurrected Jesus. After recovering from their shock, the risen Master said to them: “…go, all of you, now and tell my apostles—and Peter—that I have risen, and that you have talked with me.” They did as Jesus instructed but the apostles doubted them and thought they had seen a vision. When Peter heard his name, he rushed out, followed closely by John Zebedee, to see for himself. When Salome told the story to Jesus' family, Ruth and Jude firmly believed that her and the other women had seen the Master. Later that day, Jesus appeared again to Salome and twenty-five other women believers who were lodged at the home of Joseph of Arimathea.

Not long after Jesus’ last post-resurrection appearance on the day of Pentecost, Salome and Jesus’ mother Mary returned to the Zebedee home at Bethsaida. Mary remained with Salome until Mary died a year later. And to her great sorrow, Salome’s son James was the first apostle to be martyred. John lived to 103 and inspired or contributed much to the Bible’s New Testament. And David married Jesus’ youngest sister Ruth.

Salome and her family played major and positive roles in Jesus’ life and mission. She was a dedicated, selfless, and tireless friend of Jesus who history has not forgotten. She was sainted by the Catholic church and given feast days, April 24 and October 22. Other churches set August 3 as a day to honor Salome. She is named in the gospel of Mark as being present at the crucifixion and as one of the Myrrhbearers, the women who went to prepare Jesus' body for proper burial. Always will she be remembered as one of the first to see and believe in the resurrected Jesus.