Fifteen Facts To Consider About The Immaculate Conception Of Mary And The Virgin Birth Of Jesus

The belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the "Mother of God," "Queen of Heaven," a perpetual virgin, and has an exalted place in Heaven, which provides her the closest access to Jesus and God the Father, is not taught anywhere in the Bible, which is the final and absolute authority for the Born-Again Christian.

When Gabriel told her that the child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, Mary, an ordinary human whom God chose to use extraordinarily, answered, "Behold, I am the Lord’s servant. . . . Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38 ESV). Mary responded with belief and a willingness to submit to God’s plan which made her “highly favored” by God because she received much grace for her willingness to be the first surrogate mother. As with every human being Mary understood she was full of sin and needed forgiving grace from God and a Savior, just like everyone else when she said “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47 ESV – see also Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8).

Mary, the surrogate mother of Jesus, “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19 ESV) and remained a virgin until the Savior’s birth. Afterward, Joseph and Mary were blessed by God by having several children together: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, as well as some unnamed sisters (Matthew 13:55-56). In the culture they lived in, having many children was accepted as proof of God’s blessing on a woman.

At one time, while Jesus was teaching, a woman in the crowd yelled out, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed” (Luke 11:27 ESV). Jesus responded, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28 ESV). Jesus was telling her and the people there that obedience to God’s Word was more important than being the woman who gave birth to the Savior.

The Bible does not say anywhere that Jesus or anyone else gave direct praise, glory, or adoration toward Mary. Her Aunt Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who was the cousin of Jesus, praised and blessed her for giving birth to the Messiah, but it was not based on any divine glory in her (Luke 1:42-44). Afterward, Mary spoke a song to God, praising His mindfulness to those who are humble and for His mercy and faithfulness (Luke 1:46–55).

The Bible does not mention that the Apostles gave Mary any prominent role, nor is her death or her ascending to Heaven and having an exalted role there. Mary should be respected, but she is not worthy of our worship or adoration.

Jesus is our only advocate and mediator in Heaven (1 Timothy 2:5). Nowhere in the Bible does it indicate that Mary, or any person other than Jesus, can hear our prayers or mediate for us with God. Mary directed her worship, adoration, and praise to God alone:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:46–49 ESV).

THE FAMILY OF JESUS

Brothers

The Greek word used for "brothers" is the plural ‘adelphos’ which comes from the word ‘ach’ which is translated from Aramaic and Hebrew and has cognates in Ugaritic and most other Semitic languages. It is used in the Old Testament about 629 times. Its basic meaning represents a "male sibling," a "brother," and primarily means from the same womb and represents a full or a half-blood brother an even a blood relative or tribesman (Genesis 4:2,9:25,14:16, 29:12,15,31:32,37:14; Exodus 2:11). The word can also imply a companion or colleague that is a brother by choice and even an ally (Genesis 9:5-6; 19:6-7,29:4; 2 Kings 9:20; Isaiah 41:6; Numbers 8:26,20:14; 1 Kings 9:13).

In the New Testament, it is used for male children and descendants of the same mother or parents (Matthew 1:2; Acts 7:23; Galatians 1:19). The word is also used for people of the same nationality (Acts 3:17), any man or neighbor (Luke 10:29); a person united by a common interest or calling (Matthew 5:47; Revelation 22:9); mankind (Matthew 25:40); as well as disciples and Born-Again Believers (Matthew 23:8). However, the intended meaning is clear that the people thought Jesus was Joseph’s and Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, as well as unnamed and unnumbered sisters.

The associated derivatives of ‘adelphos’ are ‘adelphotes’ meaning a brotherly relation/brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17); ‘philadelphos,’ (from ‘phileo,’ "to love," and ‘adelphos’), "fond of one's brethren," (1 Peter 3:8); ‘philadelphia,’ "brotherly love," (Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7), and ‘pseudadelphos,’ "false brethren," (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4).