Bible character overview - Mary of Nazareth
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Time to read 5 min
Introduction:
Welcome to an insightful character overview of Mary of Nazareth. Here you'll learn about who Mary of Nazareth was, what she did, and her strengths and weaknesses. Also, we have provided questions related to the story of Mary of Nazareth to provoke thought. They can also be used for personal/small-group studies.
Who was Mary of Nazareth from the Bible?
Key facts
- When: roughly around 18 B.C
- Where: Jerusalem
- Name meaning: ‘bitter’ or ‘beloved’
Glimpse: Mary of Nazareth is highly esteemed by many for being the mother of Christ. She was called by God to a very important position and role and did so with great obedience. Mary cared for Jesus like any other mother would, with love and affection. She watched him grow and even encouraged Him to perform miracles. Throughout all of this, she always gave glory and praise to God.
Mary visited by angel Gabriel
Mary, a descendant of King David and likely a young teenager, was married to a man named Joseph. She was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told her in Luke 1:30-33:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”
Mary, being a virgin, was confused about how this could happen. The angel explained that this would be a work of the Holy Spirit, not of man or natural means.
Questions
→ What stands out to you in this section?
→ What emotions do you think Mary would have felt?
"From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name."
Paranoid Herod
During this time, King Herod, known for his paranoia about potential rivals to his throne, became enraged upon hearing rumors that a new king of the Jews had been born. He ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, based on the timeline he had learned from the Magi (Matthew 2:16):
"When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph had already fled to Egypt with Jesus, following a warning they received from an angel. After Herod's death, they returned and settled in a place called Nazareth.
Questions
→ Have you ever experienced the divine protection of God?
→ How safe are we with God?
"So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.''
Raising Jesus
Mary later visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was expecting John the Baptist, the forerunner who would prepare the way for Jesus. When the time came, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Mary was given the extraordinary privilege of watching Jesus grow up. One notable event occurred at a wedding in Cana, where, although Jesus had not yet performed any miracles publicly, Mary played a key role.
At the wedding, Mary informed Jesus that the hosts had run out of wine. Although His time had not yet come, she encouraged Him to perform His first recorded miracle by turning water into wine (John 2:1-11).
At Jesus' crucifixion, He entrusted the care of His mother to John the disciple, demonstrating His concern for her well-being. The final mention of Mary in the New Testament is in Acts 1:14, where she is described as joining the apostles in prayer after Jesus' ascension into heaven:
"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."
Questions
→ How important was Mary to Jesus? Do you think Mary had an affect on the start of Jesus's ministry?
→ Have you ever been placed in an important role? How did God help you in that position?
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers”
Strengths:
- Obedient: Mary obeyed the word of the Lord although it could have led her into much trouble. Mary and Joseph weren't married, so having a baby would have been punishable by death
- Blessed: She was blessed with one of the greatest honors someone could receive
- Righteousness: Mary was a righteous woman of God who was used in a peculiar but awesome way
Weaknesses:
- N/A
Conclusion
We can learn from Mary's story that, God can use anyone. But also God tends to use those who you would least expect. Mary says herself in her song in Luke 1:52 'He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.', it is the humble that God exalts. So we must humble ourselves before God in obedience and surrender, positioning ourselves to be used by Him.
''For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life''
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