Home › People of the Bible › Mary
People of the Bible
Who Was Mary, the Mother of Jesus?
In short
Mary was a young woman of Nazareth whom God chose to be the mother of Jesus. When the angel Gabriel announced she would bear the Son of God, she answered with humble trust.
She is honored across the Christian world for her faith and obedience, and for saying yes to God's astonishing call.
“And 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 · King James Version (public domain)
Mary at a glance
| Name | Mary |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Matthew, Luke |
| Key passage on this page | Luke 1:38 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 4 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- Romans 4:20-21
- Psalms 119:38
- Psalms 116:16
- 2 Samuel 7:25-29
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Mary in the Bible?
Mary appears in Matthew, Luke. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Luke 1:38?
Readers most often set it next to Romans 4:20-21, Psalms 119:38, Psalms 116:16, 2 Samuel 7:25-29.
Why does Mary matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Mary is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Father, you are already present in Mary, before any of us arrive. We bring you Mary, Matthew, Luke. Let your Body in that place love one another and be one. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, Luke 1:38, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Mary's story says about God, not only about Mary.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Mary
You can read the story of Mary in Matthew, Luke on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
