PERSON · MATRIARCH
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Mary is the only individual in the Gospel of Luke's nativity account identified as the mother of Jesus, whose birth is presented as fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 as cited in Matthew 1:22–23. She is identified by Elizabeth as "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:43) and is among the named women present at the crucifixion and entrusted by the dying Jesus to the care of the Beloved Disciple (John 19:25–27).
Matthew 1:18–25
The Story
She was not a queen, not a prophetess, not a judge of Israel. She was a young woman in Nazareth, a city of Galilee, betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph — and into that ordinary life came a messenger from God with news that would reorder everything.
The angel Gabriel's arrival, as Luke records it, was not merely a visit. It was a commission. He greeted her as one highly favoured, assured her that the Lord was with her, and when she was troubled by his words, told her plainly not to fear. What followed was an announcement unlike any in human history: she would conceive and bear a son, and that son would be called the Son of the Highest. His kingdom, Gabriel said, would have no end.
Mary's first response, Scripture tells us, was a practical question — not defiance, not disbelief, simply the honest inquiry of a woman trying to understand what she was being told. When Gabriel answered that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her, she did not argue. She submitted. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," she said, "be it unto me according to thy word."
38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38·KJV
It is one of the most quietly momentous sentences in all of Scripture — a young woman opening her life to something she could not fully comprehend, and doing so willingly.
Life & Legacy
Death
TraditionScripture does not record the death of Mary. Church tradition holds that she died in either Jerusalem or Ephesus, and some traditions assert she was taken bodily into heaven (the Assumption), but these are not attested in the Protestant biblical canon.
Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica; Catholic tradition of the Assumption
Legacy
ScriptureMary is recorded as the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20). She is depicted as present at key events including Jesus's birth (Luke 2:7), his first recorded miracle at Cana (John 2:1–11), the crucifixion (John 19:25–27), and the gathering of disciples in Jerusalem after the resurrection (Acts 1:14).
Luke 1:26–2:52; John 2:1–11; John 19:25–27; Acts 1:14
Character
ScriptureMary is described as highly favoured by God and the object of divine grace (Luke 1:28, 30). She responded to the angel Gabriel's announcement of her pregnancy with submission and praise, declaring herself the Lord's servant (Luke 1:38) and offering the Magnificat hymn (Luke 1:46–55). She is also recorded as pondering and treasuring events concerning her son in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51).
Luke 1:28–55; Luke 2:19, 51
Significance
ScriptureMary is the only individual in the Gospel of Luke's nativity account identified as the mother of Jesus, whose birth is presented as fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 as cited in Matthew 1:22–23. She is identified by Elizabeth as "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:43) and is among the named women present at the crucifixion and entrusted by the dying Jesus to the care of the Beloved Disciple (John 19:25–27).
Matthew 1:22–23; Luke 1:43; John 19:25–27
DeathTradition
Scripture does not record the death of Mary. Church tradition holds that she died in either Jerusalem or Ephesus, and some traditions assert she was taken bodily into heaven (the Assumption), but these are not attested in the Protestant biblical canon.
Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica; Catholic tradition of the Assumption
LegacyScripture
Mary is recorded as the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20). She is depicted as present at key events including Jesus's birth (Luke 2:7), his first recorded miracle at Cana (John 2:1–11), the crucifixion (John 19:25–27), and the gathering of disciples in Jerusalem after the resurrection (Acts 1:14).
Luke 1:26–2:52; John 2:1–11; John 19:25–27; Acts 1:14
CharacterScripture
Mary is described as highly favoured by God and the object of divine grace (Luke 1:28, 30). She responded to the angel Gabriel's announcement of her pregnancy with submission and praise, declaring herself the Lord's servant (Luke 1:38) and offering the Magnificat hymn (Luke 1:46–55). She is also recorded as pondering and treasuring events concerning her son in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51).
Luke 1:28–55; Luke 2:19, 51
SignificanceScripture
Mary is the only individual in the Gospel of Luke's nativity account identified as the mother of Jesus, whose birth is presented as fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 as cited in Matthew 1:22–23. She is identified by Elizabeth as "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:43) and is among the named women present at the crucifixion and entrusted by the dying Jesus to the care of the Beloved Disciple (John 19:25–27).
Matthew 1:22–23; Luke 1:43; John 19:25–27
Artist's impression