Mary, Mother of Jesus

Nazareth

The angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth in Galilee, “to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:27). The angel told her that she would conceive and give birth to a son, “and shall name him ‘Jesus’” (Luke 1:31). She asked, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34); in the end she said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). These things are in Lesson 1.

Matthew’s Gospel tells this from Joseph’s side: “After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit” (Matt 1:18). An angel of the Lord said to Joseph in a dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 1:20). “Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself” (Matt 1:24), “and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus” (Matt 1:25).

Into the Hill Country

“Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste” (Luke 1:39), to see her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth said, “Blessed is she who believed” (Luke 1:45). Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). “Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house” (Luke 1:56). These things are in Lesson 2.

Bethlehem and the Temple

Joseph went to Bethlehem “to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant” (Luke 2:5). There she gave birth: “She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Shepherds came and spread what the angel had said; “But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

They brought the child up to Jerusalem “to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). In the temple, Simeon said to Mary: “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul” (Luke 2:35). When they had done all that the law required, “they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth” (Luke 2:39).

Matthew’s Gospel records other things: wise men from the east “came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him” (Matt 2:11). An angel of the Lord said to Joseph: “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt” (Matt 2:13); “He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt” (Matt 2:14). Later the angel said: “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel” (Matt 2:20); “He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel” (Matt 2:21).

The year Jesus was twelve, they went up to Jerusalem for the Passover, and on the way home the boy was missing; “After three days they found him in the temple” (Luke 2:46). Mary said: “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you” (Luke 2:48). “His mother kept all these sayings in her heart” (Luke 2:51). These things are in Lesson 3.

Cana and Capernaum

There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and “Jesus’ mother was there” (John 2:1). When the wine ran out, she said to Jesus, “They have no wine” (John 2:3). “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come’” (John 2:4). “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever he says to you, do it’” (John 2:5). “After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples” (John 2:12).

Once, “His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him” (Mark 3:31). Jesus said: “For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35).

In his hometown, people said: “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon?” (Mark 6:3).

By the Cross and in the Upper Room

When Jesus was crucified, “standing by Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). Jesus said to her, “Woman, behold, your son!” (John 19:26); and to the disciple whom he loved, “Behold, your mother!” “From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:27). These things are in Lesson 4.

After Jesus was taken up, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem: “All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts 1:14). This is the last time the New Testament names her.