1. The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the
"Virgin Mary," though never so designated in Scripture #Mt
2:11 Ac 1:14 Little is known of her personal history. Her
genealogy is given in #Lu 3:1ff. She was
of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David #Ps
132:11 Lu 1:32 She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth,
who was of the lineage of Aaron #Lu 1:36
While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the
wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be
the mother of the promised Messiah #Lu 1:35
After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was living with
her husband Zacharias (probably at Juttah, #Jos
15:55 21:16 in the neighbourhood of Maon), at a considerable
distance, about 100 miles, from Nazareth. Immediately on entering the
house she was saluted by Elisabeth as the mother of her Lord, and then
forthwith gave utterance to her hymn of thanksgiving #Lu
1:46-56 comp. #1Sa 2:1-10 After
three months Mary returned to Nazareth to her own home. Joseph was
supernaturally made aware #Mt 1:18-25 of
her condition, and took her to his own home. Soon after this the
decree of Augustus #Lu 2:1 required that
they should proceed to Bethlehem #Mic 5:2
some 80 or 90 miles from Nazareth; and while they were there they
found shelter in the inn or khan provided for strangers #Lu
2:6,7 But as the inn was crowded, Mary had to retire to a place
among the cattle, and there she brought forth her son, who was called
Jesus #Mt 1:21 because he was to save his
people from their sins. This was followed by the presentation in the
temple, the flight into Egypt, and their return in the following year
and residence at Nazareth #Mt 2:1ff.
There for thirty years Mary, the wife of Joseph the carpenter,
resides, filling her own humble sphere, and pondering over the strange
things that had happened to her. During these years only one event in
the history of Jesus is recorded, viz., his going up to Jerusalem when
twelve years of age, and his being found among the doctors in the
temple #Lu 2:41-52 Probably also during
this period Joseph died, for he is not again mentioned. After the
commencement of our Lord’s public ministry little notice is taken of
Mary. She was present at the marriage in Cana. A year and a half after
this we find her at Capernaum #Mt 12:46,48,49
where Christ uttered the memorable words, "Who is my mother? and
who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!" The next
time we find her is at the cross along with her sister Mary, and Mary
Magdalene, and Salome, and other women #Joh
19:26 From that hour John took her to his own abode. She was
with the little company in the upper room after the Ascension #Ac
1:14 From this time she wholly disappears from public notice.
The time and manner of her death are unknown.
