31..A.RY, MOTHER OP JESUS (ante), was of the lineage of David and probably a daugh ter of Heli, who stands in Luke's genealogical record first after Joseph. It is stated concerning her in the New Testament: That the home of her youth was in Nazareth; that she became the espoused wife of Joseph, a descendant of David, but before their marriage was told by the angel Gabriel, sent from heaven to Nazareth, that, by the power of the Holy Ghost, she was to become the mother of the Son of God, whom she should name Jesus, and who, raised to the throne of his father David, would reign thereon for ever; that, after Joseph also had been divinely informed of the truth concerning her, she was received by him as his wife, and as such retained her virginity until the birth of Jesus, her first-born son, which took place at Bethlehem under the circumstances related by Luke; that, by divine direction, she and Joseph fled into Egypt with Jesus in order to defeat Herod's designs against him; that after Herod's death she returned with her husband and child to Nazareth; and, except during her annual visits to Jerusalem at the feast—in one at least of which, when Jesus was 12 years old, he went with her—remained with him in their home there until his public life and ministry began. After that time she is brought forward four times only in the New Testament: 1. At the marriage iu Cana of Galilee, where she said to Jesus, "They have no wine." 2. At Capemaum, when Jesus was teaching a great multitude who were seated attentively around him. Mary, with his brethren, uuable to force her way to him, sent messengers, who cried out to hun that his mother and his brethren were standing outside wishing to see and talk with him: Jesus did not go out to her or send her any answer; but, without ceasing his instructions, said " Who is my mother and who are my brethren?" and, stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, thus answered his own question, " 3Iy mother and my brethren are those who are hearing and doing the word of God "—and with wider appli cation still to all places and all times—" Whosoever is willing to do the will of myFather in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother." 3. John records that Mary the
mother of Jesus, with three or four of her friends, having been standing firmly by the cross, probably from the beginning of the crucifix-ion, Jesus, just before his death, see ing her there and the beloyed disciple standing by her, said to her, " Woman, behold thy son," and to him, " Behold thy mother." After this, knowing that then all things had been accomplished, he spake his last words and uttered his final cry. Thus, amidst all its brevity, the Scripture narrative makes it clear that she who had heard the first infant cry of Jesus heard also his closing cries of anguish; and from that very hour she was comforted in what became to her a beloved home. It is related, also, that she saw thc tomb in which his body was laid. 4. After the ascension of Jesus to heaven Lukc records the presence of 3Iary with the apostles, the company of the women, and the breth ren of Jesus in the upper room at Jerusalem; where she and they continued strenuously in prayer until, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured upon them from on high. This is the last scriptural notice of her, and it supplies the last thing certainly known concerning her earthly life. As the inspired narrative introduces her by record ing the heavenly benediction pronounced upon her, and her own magnificent song of humble, grateful praise; so it leaves her praying, in common with the rest of the disci ples, for the promised blessing froth on high. All beyond the above that is related of her by multitudes of writers in various ages of the church is mere legend. A tender interest and the respect due to her mysterious and sublime relation to the Christ of God, natural concerning her in the minds of all devout Christians, may have been in some degree prevented by the claims for her worship which have been advanced by large por tions of the church.