‘And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,'
Among those who had been observers of the crucifixion were ‘many women' from Galilee, who had been followers of Jesus and had ministered to His needs. We are given more details of these women in Luke 8:2-3. They watched proceedings from afar, thus complying with the thought in Psalms 38:11, ‘those who love me, and my friends, stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand afar off' (although there it was for a different reason. Here they are probably compelled to do it because of the Roman restrictions. Probably only female relatives would have been allowed to approach closer). The women would not be seen by the disciples as in the same danger as the men, for no one would be interested in them. They were irrelevant in Jewish eyes. (The men also, however, would soon recognise that their fears were unnecessary). The importance of the presence of the women comes out later in that they are the first witnesses of the resurrection. But they are also a confirmation of the importance of women to God in the new Israel.
From among the Apostles we only hear of John as being present at the crucifixion. He seemingly had connections with the High Priest's family and knew that he was relatively safe, and the fact that he was there as a support for Jesus' mother would take attention off him (John 18:15). The remainder were keeping out of the way. They knew that round the cross was very much where they would be looked for by anyone who was seeking to arrest them. And in fact we should recognise that had a party of brawny men who were known to be followers of Jesus appeared there it would unquestionably have raised alarm bells, if not more decisive action. They may well have been seen as a threat. No one, however, would be concerned about the presence of the women.