MARY IN THE BIBLE

The article below is all biblical events with Mary and virtually all quotes about Mary – the mother of Jesus. We believe that the Bible (compared to apocrypha, legends, theological theories, visions, dreams, revelations) is certainly a true source of information and a solid foundation of the Christian faith, from which one must begin shaping religious views and professed theology.

MARY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Verses in the Bible about Mary around the birth of Jesus

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
[Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV]

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
[Luke, 1:26-56 NKJV]

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
[Luke 2:5-7 NKJV]

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
[Luke 2:16-19 NKJV]

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
[Luke 2:25-35 NKJV]

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
[Luke, 2:48-51 ESV]

Biblical facts about Mary part 1:

1. Mary had a husband.
2. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit when Mary was a virgin.
3. Joseph didn’t lay with his wife until she gave birth to Jesus (what’s the point of this section if he didn’t lay with his wife later as well?)
4. Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son (why the word firstborn if Jesus had no siblings?).
5. Mary was definitely a God-fearing, God-obedient woman. Mary understands her need to be saved by God.
6. Mary received a great grace that God chose her to be the mother of Jesus.
7. Mary did not understand God’s plan for Jesus Christ at first.
8. The prophet Simeon prophesied that Mary too would not be able to remain indifferent to her faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. (“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12)

Intervention of Mary and the family of Jesus

Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” (…)
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
[Mark 3:20-21 + 31-35 ESV]

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
[Matthew 12:46-50 ESV]

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
[Luke 8:19-21 ESV]

Biblical facts about Mary part 2:

1. Mary and the “earthly” family of the Lord Jesus did not understand the situation related to the beginning of His Work at the beginning. Jesus so far lived simply, did not pay attention to his person. Suddenly, he begins to preach about the Kingdom of God, points to himself as the Son of God, heals the sick, casts out demons, performs many miracles, crowds flock to him!
2. Mary and her family thought that Jesus went out of his mind and decided to intervene.
3. Jesus (probably knowing their intention) did not care about his earthly family in this situation, but pointed out that it is not blood ties, but the fulfillment of God’s Will makes someone is His relative. At that time, Jesus was no longer for His relatives, first of all (only) a brother, son, cousin, grandson. The Lord Jesus must be God, Lord, Savior, Messiah for everyone. Blood ties, acquaintance from school, neighborhood did not exempt people from repentance and following the Lord Jesus in order to be saved.

Other verses about Mary from the Bible

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”(…)
(…)This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
[John 2:1-5+11-12 ESV]

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
[Mark 6:3 ESV]

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
[Luke 11:27-28 ESV]

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
[John 19:25-27 ESV]

And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
[Acts 1:13-14 ESV]

In addition, mentioned in: Mt 1:16, Mt 2:11

Biblical facts about Mary part 3:

1. Mary probably had other children (unless they were nephews or adopted children). About brothers or sisters we read: John 2:12; Mark 6:3; Acts 1:14; Mark 3:31; Matthew 12:46; Lu 8:19; Galatians 1:19
2. Mary believed that Jesus could perform a miracle. Jesus listened to his mother’s request.
3. Jesus did not exalt Mary because of being his “earthly” mother. Again, he indicated that it was important to him to listen to God’s Word ( to Him).
4. Mary was under the cross. Jesus took care of Mary after His departure. The apostle John took her thereafter.
5. Mary, the mother of Jesus (and certainly part of His earthly family) believed in Him and was His disciples. They stayed with other disciples in the community after His Resurrection.
6. On the pages of the Bible, Jesus addresses Mary twice, in both cases he calls her “woman”.

MARY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Micah 5:3 “Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.”

The figure of Mary is often identified with many OT verses, which, unfortunately, when you read the context, do not deal with her. It is important to remember not to read the Word of God by verses, but always to compare it with the context, with the chapter, then with the whole book, and finally with the whole Bible. God often addresses in the Old Testament to the chosen one, a woman, a daughter of Zion. It must be understood that in this case it is about Jerusalem / God’s People / God’s Church (sometimes God’s Wisdom). This is clearly seen, for example, in Ezekiel 16, Isaiah 62, or in Revelation 21.

MARY IN THE BIBLE - CONCLUSIONS

The figure of Mary does not appear in any of the letters of the New Testament (didactic – teaching books) and only mentioned in chapter 1 of the Book of Acts.

There are relatively few passages in the Bible about Mary relative to the amount of text and compared to other characters. First, it is about the Lord Jesus, then nothing for a long time, then about the apostles Peter and Paul, and again nothing for a long time.

Jesus, nor his disciple, apostle or angel anywhere in the Bible indicated its special role in the process of man’s reaching salvation (read what salvation is).

Much of the commonly accepted information about Mary’s life finds no mention or confirmation in the Bible: “co-suffering with Christ”, “mother for man”, “eternal virginity”, the title of “most holy”, “mediation to Jesus”, “immaculate conception”, “assumption of Mary”.

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Mary in the Bible