Mary, the Mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25; Matthew 2:11; Luke 1:26–56; Luke 2:1–52; Mark 3:31–35; Mark 6:1–3; John 2:1–11; John 19:25–27; Acts 1:12–14)

The Handmaid of the Lord

A virgin of Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph, to whom the angel Gabriel announced that she would bear a son; she appears at his birth, at Cana, at the cross, and among the believers waiting in Jerusalem after he was taken up.

Mary is introduced as “a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Luke 1:27). To the angel's word that she would bear a son she answered, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

The account shows her at the birth in Bethlehem, where “Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19), and at the temple, where Simeon told her, “a sword shall pierce through thine own soul” (Luke 2:35), and where the prophetess Anna “gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). When Jesus was twelve she and Joseph sought him three days in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41–52). At Cana she told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). She stood by the cross, where Jesus gave her into the care of the disciple whom he loved (John 19:25–27), and after he was taken up she was with the apostles in prayer (Acts 1:14).

After Jesus' birth she lived as Joseph's wife. The text says Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth a son” (Matthew 1:25) and calls Jesus “her firstborn son” (Luke 2:7), and the people of Nazareth named the household: “is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?” (Matthew 13:55–56). Read plainly, these are the children Joseph and Mary had after Jesus.

Strengths

• Trust in God's word
• Humility
• Reflectiveness
• Praise
• Faithful presence

Themes

• Obedience
• Pondering the word
• Motherhood
• Praise
• Presence at the cross

The angel Gabriel comes to Mary (Luke 1:26–38)

At Nazareth the angel tells her she will conceive and bear a son named Jesus; she answers, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.

The angel Gabriel comes to Mary

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26). The angel said, “thou hast found favor with God” (Luke 1:30), and told her she would “bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” (Luke 1:31).

She asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee” (Luke 1:35). Then Mary said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)

Mary goes with haste to the hill country; Elizabeth blesses her, and Mary praises God, saying, My soul doth magnify the Lord.

Jesus is born (Luke 2:1–20; Matthew 1:18–25; Matthew 2:11)

At Bethlehem Mary brings forth her firstborn son; the shepherds come, and Mary keeps all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

Jesus is born

“And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). The shepherds came with haste “and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16).

“But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). In Matthew, the Wise-men came into the house and “saw the young child with Mary his mother” (Matthew 2:11).

Simeon and Anna at the temple (Luke 2:22–38)

Mary and Joseph bring the child to Jerusalem; Simeon blesses them and speaks to Mary of a sword piercing her own soul, and the prophetess Anna gives thanks and speaks of him to all who look for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Seeking the boy Jesus (Luke 2:41–52)

Mary and Joseph return to Jerusalem and find the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple; his mother keeps these sayings in her heart.

The wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11)

Mary tells Jesus the wine has failed, and tells the servants to do whatever he says.

By the cross (John 19:25–27)

Mary stands by the cross of Jesus, who gives her into the care of the disciple standing by.

With the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12–14)

After Jesus is taken up, Mary is among those who continue stedfastly in prayer with the apostles and his brethren.

Jesus (Luke 2:7; John 19:25–27)

Her firstborn son; she brought him forth at Bethlehem and stood by his cross.

Joseph (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 2:41–48)

The man to whom she was betrothed; he took her as his wife and they sought Jesus together in Jerusalem.

Elizabeth (Luke 1:36; Luke 1:39–45)

Her kinswoman, who blessed her when Mary came to her house.

Simeon (Luke 2:25–35)

Blessed the family at the temple and spoke to Mary of the child.

Anna (Luke 2:36–38)

A prophetess of the tribe of Asher, long a widow, who never left the temple; coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks and spoke of the child to all who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The disciple whom Jesus loved (John 19:25–27)

Took her to his own home from the cross. The text does not name him; whether he is John, son of Zebedee, is a question on which readers differ.

Jesus' brethren (Mark 3:31–35; Mark 6:3; Acts 1:14)

Her children with Joseph, born after Jesus: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, and sisters. At first they did not believe on him; after he was taken up they were with her among the believers.

Major sections

• Luke 1:26–56
• Luke 2:1–52
• John 19:25–27

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