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See also: The Birth of Jesus 180–85 ■ The Magi 186 ■ Herod’s Infanticide 187 ■
The Divinity of Jesus 190–93THE GOSPELS
Mary
An obscure young woman
living in Nazareth and
betrothed to Joseph, Mary
rises to everlasting adoration
by the Annunciation of the
angel Gabriel. Mary humbly
accepts her extraordinary
situation without challenge
and immediately prepares
herself to deliver the son of the
Lord. She gives birth to Jesus
in a stable in Bethlehem.
Mary encourages Jesus
to perform His first miracle
at Cana. After Jesus leaves
home to begin His ministry,
Mary rarely appears in the
Bible, but she is present at the
foot of the cross during the
crucifixion and continues to
meet with the disciples after
this and the resurrection.
Mary’s devotion to God is
attested to by her psalm of
thanksgiving (canticle) in
Luke 1:46–55. This “Song
of Mary” is also called the
Magnificat, and is incorporated
into the liturgical services of
the Catholic Church. It is one
of the most ancient of all
Christian hymns.Luke’s Gospel
focuses on Mar y.Mary, a virgin, is pledged
to marry Joseph.Gabriel tells Mary she has
found favor with God.Gabriel says she will conceive
a child by the Holy Spirit.Mary accepts Gabriel’s word
and promises to serve God.Matthew’s Gospel
focuses on Joseph.Mary is pledged to Joseph
but becomes pregnant.Joseph, “son of David,”
decides to leave her quietly.An angel explains that Mary
conceived by the Holy Spirit.Joseph marries Mary but the
union is not consummated.Jesus is born in Bethlehem.
Angels announce Mary’s conception
a Davidic Messiah, or king, who
would deliver them from their
enemies—at that time, the Romans.
As Isaiah had prophesied: “He
will reign on David’s throne and
over his kingdom, establishing
and upholding it with justice and
righteousness” (Isaiah 9:7).
A common name given to
Jesus refers back to this idea of
Him as the prophesied savior.
Messiah means “anointed one”
in Hebrew—that is, Jesus has
been blessed by God to lead Hischosen people—and translates
as Christos in Greek, hence the
English name “Jesus Christ.”Son of Man
While the Bible is full of miraculous
signs, it is noteworthy that the
means of Jesus coming to earth
is genuinely human: through
Mary’s pregnancy and childbirth.
Although Jesus proves Himself to
be the Son of God, His conception
in Mary by the Holy Spirit makes
Him both human and divine. ■The Virgin of Guadalupe, in
a clay wall hanging in Metepec,
Mexico. The name dates back to
1851, when a peasant saw a vision
of Mary near Villa de Guadalupe.US_178-179_The_annunciation.indd 179 28/09/17 1:02 pm