Others in the Gospels · Women in the Gospels and Acts
Mary, mother of Jesus
Mother of Jesus
- 13
- Events
- 8
- Places
- 6
- Journeys
Editorial summary
Luke tells of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to her in Nazareth and of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
Scripture
Journeys
6Where their story unfolds
8- BethlehemBethlehem
- EgyptEgyptApproximate location. A region or area. The marker is only a representative point.
- NazarethNazareth
- Hill country of JudeaJudaean MountainsApproximate location. A region or area. The marker is only a representative point.
- Temple MountTemple Mount (Haram al-Sharif)
- CanaKhirbet Qana (Horvat Qana)Probable identification. The leading identification, though alternatives have been proposed.
- GolgothaChurch of the Holy SepulchreTraditional site. Located by long-standing tradition rather than firm evidence.
- JerusalemOld City of Jerusalem
Where they appear
13The wise men find the child
Led by the star, the wise men found the young child with Mary in a house, worshiped him and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh. Warned in a dream, they went home another way.
Flight to Egypt
Warned in a dream that Herod would seek the child’s life, Joseph took the child and his mother by night to Egypt, and they stayed there until Herod died.
Settling in Nazareth
After Herod died, Joseph brought the family back to the land of Israel. Afraid of Archelaus, who ruled Judea, he withdrew to Galilee and settled in Nazareth.
The announcement to Mary
In Nazareth the angel Gabriel told Mary, a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph, that she would conceive and give birth to a son and name him Jesus.
Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and greeted Elizabeth in the house of Zacharias. The baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed Mary, who praised God. Mary stayed about three months and then returned home.
Birth in Bethlehem
An enrollment ordered by Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, David’s city. There Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room in the inn.
Shepherds hear the news
An angel announced the birth to shepherds keeping watch over their flock at night. They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
Presented at the temple
Mary and Joseph brought the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. In the temple Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, and the prophetess Anna gave thanks and spoke about him.
Back to Nazareth
When they had done everything the law required, they returned to their own city, Nazareth in Galilee, where the child grew strong and was filled with wisdom.
The boy Jesus in the temple
When Jesus was twelve, he stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover. After three days his parents found him in the temple among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
Water into wine
When the wine ran out at a wedding in Cana, Jesus had the servants fill six stone water pots, and the water became wine. John calls this the first of his signs.
Jesus’ mother at the cross
Standing by the cross were Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved, Jesus told her that the disciple was her son, and told the disciple that she was his mother; from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Praying in the upper room
After the ascension the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet and went up to the upper room where they were staying. They continued steadfastly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.