Mary

Mary (Greek Maria/Mariam, from Hebrew Miriam) is the most common woman's name in the New Testament, borne by at least six distinct women. By far the most significant is Mary of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus — a young virgin of Galilee betrothed to Joseph, a man of the house of David (Luke 1:27). To her the angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear "the Son of the Most High," whose kingdom would have no end (Luke 1:31–35). Her answer — "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) — stands as Scripture's model of humble, obedient faith.

Mary's song at the Visitation, the Magnificat, magnifies the God who exalts the lowly and fills the hungry with good things, and is among the Bible's most beautiful hymns of praise (Luke 1:46–55). She gave birth to Jesus at Bethlehem and "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19); at his presentation the aged Simeon warned her that "a sword will pierce through your own soul" (Luke 2:35). She fled with the child to Egypt, sought the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, and at the wedding in Cana prompted his first sign with the abiding counsel, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). At the last she stood by the cross, where the dying Jesus entrusted her to the beloved disciple (John 19:25–27), and she appears finally among the disciples praying in the upper room before Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

Theologically Mary holds a unique honour as the mother of the incarnate Lord. Her kinswoman Elizabeth greeted her as "the mother of my Lord," and Mary herself foresaw that "all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:43, 48). The ancient church confessed her as Theotokos, "God-bearer" — a title guarding not chiefly her glory but her Son's, affirming that the child she bore was truly God become man (Galatians 4:4). She is rightly venerated as the foremost example of faith and discipleship, yet her own witness ever points away from herself to Christ: "Do whatever he tells you."

The other New Testament Marys are also remembered. Mary Magdalene, freed by Jesus from seven demons (Luke 8:2), followed him to the cross and became the first witness of the resurrection, sent to tell the apostles (John 20:11–18). Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, sat at Jesus' feet to learn and anointed him for his burial (Luke 10:39; John 12:3). Mary the mother of James and Joses watched the crucifixion and came to the tomb (Mark 15:40), and Mary the mother of John Mark hosted the Jerusalem church in her home (Acts 12:12). Together these women, sharing the name of Moses' sister Miriam, figure prominently among the faithful who followed and served the Lord.