John 19:25

‘But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.'

As it is unlikely that Mary's sister would also be called Mary we must probably see this as referring to four women, Mary and her sister; together with Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas. Mary's sister may well have been called Salome (Mark 15:40), and may well have been the mother of James and John (Matthew 27:56). In fact this would explain the anonymity. The writer never mentions names of those connected with James and John, a further confirmation that John is the author. There is therefore a contrast between these four faithful followers and the four soldiers who carried out the crucifixion.

Mary Magdalene was a woman out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils (Mark 16:9). There is absolutely no reason why we should assume that she was an unchaste woman. Later tradition was probably the result of speculation. (Woe betide facts when a man finds a sermon coming on).

We know that a number of women followed Jesus and His disciples about at various times and sometimes provided for them financially (Luke 8:3). They would form a female unit. It was to their credit that they were there at His hour of greatest need. But to be fair to the disciples the women would not be seen to be in as great a danger as the Apostles who saw themselves as marked men and liable to arrest.