The Virgin Mary mother of Jesus Christ played a vital role as a woman in the bible. The story of the birth of Jesus Christ starts with her distant cousin Elizabeth, who was married to Zacharias.
Both of them played a very important role that is rarely discussed, but equally important if you want to understand the life of Jesus Christ.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ Elizabeth and Zachariah
Elizabeth and Zacharias were an elderly righteous couple, and never had a child together. they both prayed for one, and one day, an angel appeared to Zacharias when he was alone in a temple. The angel told him that Elizabeth would give birth to a son, which they will call John.
"How shall I know this?" Zachariah asked. "My wife and I are elderly." The angel Gabriel answered "I stand in the presence of god, and he has sent me. But you will become mute to the things I have told you until they take place, because you did not believe me."
Zachariah left the temple.
The people waiting for Zachariah outside waiting for him were amazed that he was in the temple for so long, but he could say nothing because he was mute to the events that just took place.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ An Angel Appears To Mary
Six months after Elizabeth became pregnant, the same angel that appeared to Zachariah, Gabriel, appeared to Mary. Mary was engaged to Joseph at the time, and was a virgin. Gabriel told her to rejoice. She found favor in God's eyes and was chosen to give birth to his son, whom she will call Jesus.
"How can this be, since I am a virgin?" she asked.
"With God, nothing will be impossible" Gabriel told her.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ An Angel Appears To Joseph
Jesus took Mary's word that she was to bore a child from God. But in order to not make a public example, he tried hiding Mary because they were not married.
Then in a dream, an angel appeared to Joseph, telling him to marry Mary, and to name their child Jesus. The angel told him Jesus will save people from their sins. Joseph followed the angel's instructions and married her.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary went to the city of Judah to meet with Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, her baby (John, who will later baptize Jesus in the Jordon river and be one of his disciples) leaped for joy inside of her womb.
Elizabeth told her she is blessed, and Mary sang a song of joy. Mary stayed at Elizabeth's house for three months, then returned to her home in Nazareth. Shortly after, Elizabeth gave birth to John, who later became strong in spirit.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ Travel to Bethlehem
Caesar was conducting a census that required all people to return to the land they came from to be registered. Joseph was from Bethlehem, and at 9 months pregnant, Mary and Joseph left for Bethlehem. Upon arrival, the Inn was full. Mary and Joseph were forced to stay in a stable, where the birth of Jesus Christ occurred. They wrapped him in cloth and laid him in a manger.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ The Shepards
A group of shepards were nearby herding their flocks when an angel appeared to them, shining in white light. The angel told them the savior was born in the town of Bethlehem. "You will find a baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.
Then the angel departed from them and went back to heaven.
The shepards rushed into the town of Bethlehem, and sure enough, they found Jesus lying in a manger. They told Mary and Joseph about the angel appearing to them, but in her heart, Mary was unsure whether or not to believe them. 8 days after his birth, Jesus was circumcised.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ The Three Wise Men
Word got back to King Herod of Jerusalem of Christ's birth. He gathered his scribes and religious leaders to ask them where he was born. They pointed out in scripture that it was prophesied he would be born in Bethlehem, so he sent out wise men to go find him, and bring back information, so he could go worship him too.
The wise men were guided by a star until they reached Bethlehem. They found Jesus, and showered the baby with great gifts, and bowed down to worship him. At some point they slept, because God communicated with them not to return back to Herod, so they never went back.
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ Plot To Kill Baby Jesus
When the wise men never returned, Herod realized he had been deceived by them.
Out of anger, he ordered all babies 2 and under in all of Bethlehem's surrounding areas to be put to death. This act by King Herod fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah. Joseph and Mary left for Egypt to protect their son.
While in Egypt, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him that those who plotted to kill Jesus were dead. They returned to Nazareth in the region of Galilee, fulfilling the prophecy "He shall be called a Nazarene".
Mary Mother Of Jesus Christ Baptism Of Jesus Christ
When Jesus was around the age of thirty, He was baptized by John, Elizabeth's son. John was a righteous man, who gained much popularity in the surrounding region of Jerusalem for preaching the need to become baptized.
Jesus came to him at the Jordon River, shocking John.
John told Jesus he should be the one baptizing him, but Jesus was baptized. As he rose up from the waters of the Jordon, The heavens parted and the holy spirit descended upon him like a dove. God spoke from heaven, saying "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased."
The events to follow are found in the Temptation of Jesus Christ with an short, yet amazing video to watch.
