Mary’s story begins in Luke 1:26.

Influential Women Of The Bible: Mary (Mother of Jesus)

Mary’s story begins in Luke 1:26.

Mary was a young woman of Galilee around the age of 16. Mary's parents made plans for her to be married as was customary during the time. They chose a young man by the name of Joseph of Nazareth for her husband. The engagement took place and Mary returned home to wait for about a year before she would go and live with Joseph as his wife. Before that could happen, Mary had a visitation by an angel named Gabriel. The angel told Mary that she was “highly favored and the Lord was with her” and that she was “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28). After being somewhat afraid and confused, the angel explained to Mary, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” The angel then departed from Mary and visited Joseph in a dream. He explained to Joseph also concerning the birth of Jesus. After a three month visit with her cousin Elizabeth, Mary went back home. About six months later, Mary and Joseph had to leave Galilee for Judea to register for the national census. At this point, Mary was at full term of her pregnancy. When they arrived in Judea, Mary began to have contractions and they ended up in a small town of Judea called Bethlehem. Because there was no vacancy, Mary gave birth to her child in a stable at the Inn. Her baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a feeding trough. Nearby, there were Shepherds who had an angelic visitation. The angel declared, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:1-11) Eight days later, they circumcised the child and called his name JESUS!

After escaping to Egypt from the massacre of Herod, Mary and Joseph returned back to Galilee to raise Jesus. When Joseph died, some years before Jesus' public ministry, Mary became a widow and a single parent. She had to raise her children on her own and depend on her son Jesus for support. When Jesus was about thirty, He left Nazareth to begin His ministry. Mary watched Him preach in the synagogues, cast out devils, and work many mighty miracles. She watched Him be rejected by His own people. She watched Him get arrested and wept as He was crucified. She watched her son suffer and die. When all the disciples fled, she remained with Him. Oh, what joy she must have had when she saw him on the third day alive! Mary became among those who waited for the promise of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. As the mother of Jesus, she also had a special place among the followers of the early church. She was able to strengthen their faith through her own during persecution. From His cross, Jesus gave her example to His church as a woman and mother of all ages. “Behold thy Mother” (John 19:25-27)

(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)