What does the Bible Teach About Mary?

1. She is a favored Daughter of God the Father, Immaculately Conceived and a Perpetual Virgin

Luke 1:26-28 “…the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.””

This passage from scripture speaks volumes as to the importance of Mary to God’s plan for humanity. Prior to Jesus winning grace for mankind, Mary is “full of grace”. The Creator had a special purpose for this woman. She was to become the new ark of the new covenant. The Word of God would live in her womb for nine months, mixing with her blood and her substance.

Jesus’ divinity came solely from His Father. His blood, body, and appearance came from His mother. She was immaculately conceived and due to His Grace, was without sin. All of this was done by the Father for the Son. She was willed to have an abundance of grace because the Bread of Life was nurtured, taught, mothered and loved by this woman. Mary was saved by the Savior before time so that the Savior would become man, God Incarnate, in time.

Her virginity at the time of conception cannot be questioned. Her perpetual virginity is also without question.

Luke 1:30-32 “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Luke 1:34 “But Mary said the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

Mary was betrothed to Joseph; so why did she not assume that she would conceive this child with her husband? The angel tells her she will conceive, not that she had conceived. Tradition holds that Mary and Joseph had already agreed to a celibate married life. Their marriage would not be a traditional marriage; she would have no “relations” with a man. Scripture seems to confirm this tradition.

2. She is Spouse of the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:35-36 “And the angel said to her in reply, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1:38 “Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.”

The Holy Trinity is a mystery. God is one God in Three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it clear from Genesis to the Book of Revelation that this mystery is a Family. God is Family and all of His works are designed for family. Man and woman were created to become one body and to multiply. Adam and Eve disobeyed their Father and brought original sin upon mankind. Mary as the new Eve said yes to the Lord and brought Salvation into this world and to mankind. By claiming herself “handmaid” she was subordinate to God’s Will, which was the Word Incarnate.

3. She is Mother of God and Our Spiritual Mother in Heaven

Luke 1:41-44 “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Families have a mother and a father. Jesus Christ had a Father, God the Father. Jesus also had a mother, the Virgin Mary. She is the only person present throughout His mission. She was the woman who bore Him, presented Him and raised Him in the faith. She was the person who instigated His first miracle. She walked the passion with Him, stood by Him until His death, and buried Him.

John 19:27 “Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
She was no longer singularly the Mother of God, she was also the “mother of all the living”. Just as Eve was proclaimed the “mother of all the living”; Mary became the new Eve and mother to all who live a new life through baptism.

John 20:17 “I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

The sacrifice of Jesus allowed us to become children of God and brothers of Jesus Christ. As brothers of Jesus, we share His Father and His mother.
Revelation 11:19-12:1 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of the covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Revelation 12:17 “then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.:”

John writes the revelations of Jesus Christ. John is shown the new ark of the covenant, Mary, in God’s temple in Heaven. She is not only in heaven, she is crowned. She is the Queen Mother. It is also revealed that she does have other children. Who are they? “Those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.” We, who are baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and follow the teachings of Christ are her children!

James 5:16 “The fervent prayers of a righteous person is very powerful.”

Who is more righteous that our mother, Mary? She is in heaven with her Son and is a powerful intercessor. We were instructed to pray for each other. Mary is also instructed to pray. She prays for all her children to repent and give their hearts to her Son, Jesus.

The Bible teaches us that Mary is Daughter, Spouse and Mother. These multiple roles are a mystery; however, they are beautiful and necessary for the fulfillment of God’s Divine Plan. We do not worship Mary, we only worship God. We honor Mary as our Heavenly Mother and ask for her intercession. She is the one person in all of human history who completely shared the life of Jesus Christ and we know from the wedding at Cana that Jesus honors her requests!