References (20)
Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary [Miriam];
through her was born Jesus, who is called the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ).
[In Greek, Joseph is in the definite form to give emphasis. Mary is the Greek form of the Aramaic name Mariam (from the Hebrew Miriam). Here there is a nice connection to the first covenant and Moses, who received the teachings and commandments from God. The woman chosen to give birth to the Messiah, who fulfills the Torah, is named Mirjam – the same name as Moses' sister! It was she who watched over Moses and saved his life, see .]
The birth of Jesus the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ) happened like this: When his mother Mary was (had become) betrothed to Joseph [i.e., when the marriage vows had already been exchanged], it turned out – before they came together [as husband and wife] – that she (literally: her womb) was pregnant through (from/by) the Holy Spirit [the Holy Spirit].
But while he was thinking (reasoning back and forth) about all (these things), behold, an angel of the Lord (messenger – Gk. aggelos) appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [Miriam], your wife, for what has been conceived (brought forth, produced – Gk. gennao) in her is from (has its origin in) the Holy Spirit.
When they [the wise men] entered the house, they saw (found) the child (a child of infancy – Gk. paidion) [probably about a year old, so no longer an infant – Gk. brephos, see ] with Mary [Miriam], his mother, and they bowed down (fell on their knees in humility) and worshipped (praised) him. When they had opened their treasure chests, they brought forth (offered) gifts to him []:
gold [; – speaks prophetically of Jesus' kingship] and
incense [represents the sweet aroma of a sacrifice – speaks prophetically of Jesus' sinless life] and
myrrh [used in embalming – speaks prophetically of his death].
Isn't this the carpenter's son? [The Greek word often translated as carpenter can also mean stonemason. Joseph was probably a construction worker who worked with both wood and stone. Isn't his mother named Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?]
Isn't he the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Jude, and Simon? [The Greek word tekton, often translated as carpenter, can also mean stonemason.] Do not his sisters live here with us?" They took offense at him (rejected his authority; he became a stumbling block).
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, of the line of David. The maiden’s name was Mary.
[It is likely that Mary is somewhere between the ages of fourteen and eighteen when this happens. She was Jewish, her Hebrew name was Miriam.]
The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have received grace (favor – Gk. charis) from God.
Then Mary said to the angel: “How can this happen, since I have not known (had a sexual relationship with) any man?”
Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
A few days later,
Mary set off and hurried
(with enthusiasm) to a hill town in Judah.
[The hill country of Judah runs north-south from Jerusalem down to Hebron. The journey from Nazareth to this area takes three to four days on foot. Zechariah was a priest in the temple, but as the service was only five weeks per year, it was not necessary to live in Jerusalem. Many priests lived in towns like Jericho or Hebron. According to Christian tradition (from the 5th century) Zehariah lived at the site of Ein Kerem 4,3 miles (7 km) west of Jerusalem.]When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child kicked in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [The prophecy of is being fulfilled].
[Mary bursts out in praise. The first word in the Greek is the verb exalt (Gk. megaluno). It sets the tone for the whole song. The Latin translation has the same word order, which is why this piece has come to be called the Magnificat, from the Latin word for exalt. Mary was already familiar with the Scriptures at a young age, and the whole hymn has a biblical feel. There are many similarities with Anna’s song of praise when God gave her a son, see . The song is structured as a psalm, as are the songs of Zechariah and Simeon, see ; .]
Then Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord [I constantly praise and speak of the Lord’s greatness],
Mary stayed with her for about three months [until John the Baptist was born], and then returned home. [The Jewish custom was that the mother did nothing but rest during the first three months of pregnancy.]
He came to pay his taxes with Mary, his betrothed, who was visibly pregnant (“great with child” – Gk. ).
[This is the only time the word is used. The root word has to do with "waves" and denotes how the pregnancy is visible, i.e. after week 16 (4 months) or more. The name "City of David" often refers to Jerusalem, which was the city David occupied, see , but is also used for Bethlehem, as it was his birthplace, see . Bethlehem literally means “house of bread”. It is no coincidence that Jesus who is the “bread of life”, see , is born in Bethlehem as prophesied, see ; . Bethlehem is just south of Jerusalem – the city that you always go “up” to, no matter what direction you come from, see e.g. .]
So they hurried there and found Mary and Joseph and the newborn baby lying in the manger.
But Mary kept all this within herself and pondered it in her heart (pondering all that had happened, comparing what had been said by the shepherds with the message given earlier by the angel Gabriel).
Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary:
"Behold, this child is set for the fall and vindication of many in Israel
and for a sign that arouses opposition (which is contradicted).
Standing by Jesus' cross were
[the following women]: his mother
[Mary], his mother's sister
[probably Salome, the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John],
Mary the wife of Clopas, and
Mary from
Magdala.
All of these continued (persevered, remained together) united (in harmony, accord, with the same mind) in prayer (whose innermost nature is worship, devotion, and intimacy with God) and supplication (request, often for a personal need) together with some women and Jesus' mother [Mary] and his brothers [James, Joses, Simon, and Jude]. [Jesus' brothers and sisters are mentioned in ; ; ; .]
