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Mary (mother of Jesus).

Mary (Hebrew Miriam) is the mother of Jesus — chosen by God, addressed by the angel Gabriel as "highly favoured" or "full of grace" (Luke 1:28). Her response to the Annunciation, "behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (1:38), is the great consent at the centre of the Incarnation. Her Magnificat (1:46–55) is one of the most-loved hymns in the Bible. She appears at the Cross (John 19), is entrusted to John the beloved disciple, and is among the disciples in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1).

Timeline

• The Annunciation by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1)
• The Magnificat (Luke 1)
• Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2)
• Presentation in the temple (Luke 2)
• At the wedding in Cana (John 2)
• At the cross (John 19)
• In the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1)

Key verses

• Luke 1:38 →
• Luke 1:46-55 →
• John 19:26-27 →

Why Mary (mother of Jesus) matters

Mary is honoured across all Christian traditions — Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and even much of Protestant piety — as the mother of the Lord. The Council of Ephesus (431 AD) defined her as <em>Theotokos</em> ("God-bearer") not primarily to exalt her but to defend Christ's divinity: the one she bore was truly God. Her trust ("let it be to me according to your word") is the model of every Christian's response to God's call.

Related tools

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• Trivia categoryMother of the Messiah