Numbers 21:8-9 records a typological moment in Israel's history illuminating judgement and salvation. “...The Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole and everyone who is bitten when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” In John 3:10-15 Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, “...Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him, may have eternal life.” In Matthew’s gospel account there are only 2 people who personally experienced the events of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection as first hand eye witnesses to all three. They are Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph (wife of Cleophas). This is striking in may respects. Apologist have noted the unique ring of truth in the gospels partly because women were not considered credible witnesses culturally at this time. They would not be a fabricating author's first choice if he were making things up.
Perhaps far more compelling, however, is the question: “What uniquely motivated these women to follow Christ so closely and faithfully, such that they shared the distinction of preeminent eye witnesses of the most incredible events in all of cosmic history!?