Disciple · NT
Mary, Mother of Jesus
The young Jewish virgin of Nazareth chosen to bear the Son of God.
Mary (Hebrew Miriam) was a young woman of Nazareth, betrothed to Joseph the carpenter, both of the royal house of David. The angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son to be named Jesus, who would inherit the throne of David and reign forever. Her response — 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word' — has been called the model of believing surrender.
Mary is present at the major moments of Jesus' earthly ministry: his birth in Bethlehem, the flight into Egypt, the boy Jesus in the temple, the wedding at Cana, the foot of the cross, and with the disciples in the upper room awaiting Pentecost. Her song, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), echoes Hannah's prayer and proclaims the great reversal God works through the gospel.
Key moments
The Annunciation
Gabriel announces she will bear the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38).
The Magnificat
Her song of praise at Elizabeth's home (Luke 1:46-55).
Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
She lays him in a manger; shepherds and magi come (Luke 2).
At the cross
Jesus entrusts her to the apostle John (John 19:26-27).
Key verses
"And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
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"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name."
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"But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart."
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"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
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"These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."
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Frequently asked
Did Mary have other children besides Jesus?
The Gospels mention Jesus' brothers — James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas — and unnamed sisters (Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 6:3). Most Protestant interpreters take these as later children of Mary and Joseph; some traditions hold they were cousins or step-siblings.
How old was Mary when she had Jesus?
Scripture does not say. Jewish girls of the first century were typically betrothed in their early teens, so Mary is generally thought to have been between thirteen and sixteen at the Annunciation.
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